Premenstrual Syndrome: Causes, Symptoms And Treatment

Almost every time the premenstrual syndrome is raised as a topic of conversation, attention is paid to only one aspect: fluctuations in a woman’s mood. Indeed, the focus is often on this superficial symptom, ignoring all the complex mechanisms that control the menstrual cycle. Estrogens and progesterone vary from week to week, serotonin levels fall and other hormones are activated again, causing a woman to accumulate fluids in the body or start suffering from stomach pains and headaches, for example.

This relentless dance of neurotransmitters and hormones takes all women of childbearing age to a series of different symptoms, which can range from a small amount of breast discomfort or fatigue to the extreme situation where a woman suffers from severe seizures, dizziness, vomiting, and pain so severe as not even inflamed.

It is not surprising that some countries, e.g. Japan, grant women three days of absence due to menstruation or premenstrual syndrome. This phenomenon is called seirikyuuka , a permit that any female employee can use as needed without losing her daily wage. In many other countries, including Finland, this initiative has not yet been raised as a major topic of discussion, but at the same time we cannot ignore the fact that this is a completely obvious reality: both menstruation and the days before it produce very exhausting symptoms for many women.

What is premenstrual syndrome and why does it occur?

As we said before, in all women, premenstrual syndrome and the menstrual cycle itself do not cause much trouble. However, it is known that more than 80% of the female population experiences some type of symptoms and up to 8% of them may suffer from an extreme form of this syndrome called premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD). The latter disorder involves a number of physical and psychological characteristics that can be so intense that it proves almost impossible for women suffering from it to perform a normal daily routine.

Changes in premenstrual syndrome are related to the so-called luteal phase of the menstrual cycle. When an infertile egg begins to degenerate so that it can leave the body at a later stage during menstruation, it begins to release progesterone as well as estrogens. This change, in turn, stimulates other hormones, such as aldosterone – one of the mineralocorticoids – which in turn favors fluid retention, swelling, and a bloated feeling.

As if this weren’t enough yet, women’s serotonin levels also drop during this period before menstruation. Therefore, depression, fatigue, nausea, or even irritability are undoubtedly part of the emotional density that is so common in this syndrome.

4 features of premenstrual syndrome

It has been found that the premenstrual syndrome has, on average, four characteristic changes; four different dimensions that have been able to integrate a set of very specific symptoms that any woman with this syndrome may experience more or less. Let’s take a closer look at these steps below.

1. PMS-A (premenstrual syndrome and anxiety)

Low serotonin levels can cause, for example, stress, anxiety, nervousness, bad mood, persistent irritability, and excessive anxiety. During this period, which can last for about 3 to 10 days before menstruation, a woman notices an overactivation of the mind that is exhausting and disturbing.

2. PMS-D (premenstrual syndrome with physical pain)

In this second stage, all the physical features that appear during these two weeks before menstruation are integrated into the syndrome . Not all women experience exactly the same ailments, but on average the following symptoms are the most common:

• Headache
• Emergence of Finns
• Stomach ache
• Cramps
• Pain in the lower back
• Breast swelling and tenderness
• Joint pain
• Episodes of diarrhea or constipation

3. PMS-AN (premenstrual syndrome and sweet or other cravings)

In the premenstrual syndrome, many women in particular have noticed an increase in their lust for sweetness and for this reason many people often make sweets, chocolates and other sugary foods. This craving is explained specifically by hormones. Increased estrogen and decreased serotonin lead to lower glucose levels, which is why our brains make us crave, above all, sweet foods.

4. PMS-T (premenstrual syndrome with sadness or depression)

Fluctuations in estrogen and progesterone are associated with sleep disturbances, low mood, fatigue, hot flashes, and worst of all – very high depression, which many women can even experience as real depression.

How can the symptoms of premenstrual syndrome be reduced?

Most women turn to non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as ibuprofen, to reduce the symptoms of menstruation and premenstrual syndrome. At the same time, however, it is a good time to try other approaches that may prove to be just as effective or even more effective methods in alleviating the discomfort caused by this syndrome. These approaches include:

• Calcium and vitamin D significantly improve the symptoms of premenstrual syndrome. You can ingest these vitamins either as a vitamin supplement or increase your consumption of fatty fish such as salmon, as well as grains, orange juice, and dairy products.
• Magnesium, vitamin E and vitamin B6 are also very effective nutrients that help reduce pain and swelling, as well as the accumulation of fluids in the body.
• Natural herbs like sage as well as beets like ginger are also great aids in the treatment of premenstrual syndrome.
• Similarly, during this syndrome, the consumption of foods containing salt, refined flour, and saturated fats should be avoided. Consumption of coffee and / or alcohol should also be kept in mind.
• Moderate exercise helps reduce the swelling and bloating produced by premenstrual syndrome.

• In addition, yoga and various relaxation exercises help to lift the mood and relieve stress and anxiety.

Finally, it should be noted that if the symptoms are very painful and prevent you from living a normal life, it is recommended that you consult a doctor in this matter.  In these cases, treating symptoms with, for example, birth control pills or even antidepressants is very common and offers approaches that have been shown to be effective for this condition.

At the same time, however, it is advisable to supplement the treatment with the above-mentioned advice without hesitation. A multidisciplinary approach, combining both a natural and a psychological approach to pharmacological treatments, undoubtedly provides a very positive response to alleviate the symptoms of this ailment.