SYMPTOMS OF PREMENSTRUAL SYNDROME

 

Premenstrual syndrome usually manifests itself as either physical or emotional symptoms or both.  Women may have one or more symptoms in conjunction, but rarely will all symptoms appear in one woman.  It's common for certain symptoms to reappear in a woman month after month, but the severity will vary in different months.  It is not a steady progression of the condition  although overall the symptoms usually appear after puberty and get progressively worse through the 30's and 40's. 

 

PHYSICAL SYMPTOMS

Usually there will be an actual weight gain which is caused by physical retention of water in the body tissues.  There may be bloating in the abdominal area. It is quite common for the breasts to be very tender, sometimes described as 'it hurts when you look at me."

At times there are food cravings, similar to those experienced during pregnancy.  At a minimum the appetite changes.  Sometimes the woman doesn't have any desire for food for several days, in other women the appetite is increased significantly.

In addition to the breast pain, the woman may suffer from pain in the muscles or joints.  Headaches are common.  Extreme fatigue is a symptom often experienced during PMS.  This is fatigue at the medical level. 

Acne flare-ups are quite common, as are the increase of any other skin disorders.  Often eye problems such as conjunctivitis or other visual disturbances appear or worsen.  Respiratory allergies can become worse and infection become more common during the PMS period.  The body temperature will often increase.

 

EMOTIONAL SYMPTOMS

At the same time as the physical manifestations of premenstrual syndrome are going on, the woman often experiences a number of emotional symptoms.  It's important to understand that the physical symptoms do not cause the emotional symptoms, nor for that matter do the emotional symptoms cause the physical ones,.  They are both different manifestations of the same disease. 

Often the woman with PMS will have a higher stress level and may even suffer from added anxiety or fearfulness about upcoming events.  There may be mood swings between near hysteria into irritability or even anger.  Significant depression is quite common with period of unexplained crying, or at least of tears being very near the surface. 

The woman who is suffering from premenstrual syndrome may have difficulty concentrating.  She may be uncomfortable and unsure of herself to the point where she actually withdraws from social contact for several days.

 

Although there are many jokes regarding PMS, for the women who are experiencing it, it is no laughing matter.  Because of the emotional aspects, some--usually men--have blamed it entirely upon the mind rather than the body.  Another common way of looking at PMS is to view the physical symptoms as being part of the menstrual cycle, but the emotional symptoms are blamed on the physical ones.  In other words, "she gained five pounds so she feels fat, and the weight gain makes her upset so she cries."  In reality, all the symptoms are part of the same syndrome--PMS.