Premenstrual Syndrome

On this page

Basics

• Summary
• Start Here
• Treatments and Therapies

Learn More

• Related Issues

See, Play and Learn

• No links available

Research

• Clinical Trials
• Journal Articles

Resources

• Reference Desk
• Find an Expert

For You

• Teenagers
• Patient Handouts

Summary

Premenstrual syndrome, or PMS, is a group of symptoms that start one to two weeks before your period. Most women have at least some symptoms of PMS, and the symptoms go away after their periods start. For some women, the symptoms are severe enough to interfere with their lives. They have a type of PMS called premenstrual dysphoric disorder, or PMDD.

Common PMS symptoms include

• Breast swelling and tenderness
• Acne
• Bloating and weight gain
• Pain - headache or joint pain
• Food cravings
• Irritability, mood swings, crying spells, depression

No one knows what causes PMS, but hormonal changes trigger the symptoms. No single PMS treatment works for everyone. Over-the-counter pain relievers such as ibuprofen, aspirin or naproxen may help ease cramps, headaches, backaches and breast tenderness. Exercising, getting enough sleep, and avoiding salt, caffeine, and alcohol can also help.

Dept. of Health and Human Services Office on Women's Health

Start Here

• Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS) (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research)
• Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS) (Department of Health and Human Services, Office on Women's Health)
• Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS) FAQ (American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists) Also in Spanish

Treatments and Therapies

• Black Cohosh (National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health)
• Chasteberry (National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health)
• Evening Primrose Oil (National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health)

Related Issues

• Mittelschmerz (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) Also in Spanish
• Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder (PMDD) (American Academy of Family Physicians)
• Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder (PMDD): Different from PMS? (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research)
• Water Retention: Relieve This Premenstrual Symptom (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research)

Clinical Trials

• ClinicalTrials.gov: Premenstrual Syndrome (National Institutes of Health)

Journal Articles References and abstracts from MEDLINE/PubMed (National Library of Medicine)

• Article: Intake of dietary fat and fat subtypes and risk of...
• Article: Reproductive Affective Disorders: a Review of the Genetic Evidence for...
• Article: Vitex agnus castus for premenstrual syndrome and premenstrual dysphoric disorder:...
• Premenstrual Syndrome -- see more articles

Reference Desk

• Normal Female Reproductive Anatomy (National Cancer Institute)

Find an Expert

• womenshealth.gov (Department of Health and Human Services, Office on Women's Health) Also in Spanish

Teenagers

• Coping with Common Period Problems (For Teens) (Nemours Foundation) Also in Spanish
• Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS) (Department of Health and Human Services, Office on Women's Health)
• Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS) and Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder (PMDD) (Children's Hospital Boston) Also in Spanish

Patient Handouts

• Breast - premenstrual tenderness and swelling (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
• Premenstrual dysphoric disorder (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
• Premenstrual syndrome (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
• Premenstrual syndrome - self-care (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish