PMS
What is PMS?
Premenstrual syndrome is a hormonal disorder that is characterized by monthly recurrence of physical and psychological symptoms that can begin up to 2 weeks prior to the menstrual cycle. Nearly 75% of women experience some level of Premenstrual syndrome (PMS). The symptoms are more common between the twenties and early forties.
Diagnosing PMS
There is not a standard test for diagnosing Premenstrual syndrome and often tracking symptoms through a few monthly cycles is helpful. Sex hormone levels can be assessed through blood labs to determine if Estrogen and Progesterone are within a healthy ratio. Often with PMS, Estrogen is very high and/or Progesterone is low. This is known as Estrogen dominance.
What are the symptoms of PMS?
Symptoms of PMS include:
- Weight gain
- abdominal bloating
- food cravings
- mood swings
- breast tenderness
- sleep difficulties
- headaches or migraines
How to treat PMS
There are many approaches to treating PMS and we prefer to start with the essentials. Dietary changes such as eating smaller meals, limiting salt, avoiding caffeine and alcohol, increasing whole plant based foods that are rich in calcium and considering a multivitamin. Exercising 30 minutes daily can improve fatigue and mood. Stress reduction with deep breathing techniques, yoga, massage and stretching can be helpful along with ensuring a good night of sleep. Herbal therapies may be helpful and lastly balancing the Estrogen and Progesterone with the use of Bioidentical Progesterone can dramatically improve the quality of life every month. Other available treatments include:
