INTRODUCTION

• Pre menstrual syndrome (PMS) is a combination of physical and emotional symptom related to a woman’s menstrual cycle.
• It occurs 1 or 2 weeks before the menstrual cycle and disappear shortly before or shortly after the menstrual flow.
• The emotional and physical symptoms that occur are of sufficient severity to interfere with some aspects of life.
• The exact cause of PMS are not fully undisclosed although it is believed that some genetic component and sex hormone level contributes to PMS.

SYMPTOMS

• Emotional symptoms include irritability, dysphoria (unhappiness), tension, stress, anxiety, fatigue, food cravings (usually to sweet food) and increase or reduce appetite.
• Physical symptoms include bloating, abdominal cramps, swelling or tenderness in breast, nausea and backache.

SELF-CARE TIPS

• Please seek medical advice if you feel that these symptoms are interfering with your everyday life.
• It is recommended that you record all your symptoms in your menstrual calendar for 3 consecutive menstrual cycles. This will help your doctor to make a proper diagnosis and to give more effective treatment.

DIAGNOSIS AND TREATMENT

• The doctor will ask about the symptoms, do a complete physical examinations and blood test if needed.
• The treatment for PMS are supportive treatment which include healthy diet and good life style behaviour, learning behavioural therapy to relieve stress and pharmacological.
• Doctors will treat you depending on your symptom, example; anti- anxiety drug to relieve anxiety, painkillers such as NSAIDS (non-steroidal anti – inflammatory drug) to relieve headache and backache as well as antiemetic if you fell nauseous.