Medical Health Information

Prevention
The lifestyle, behavioral therapy and stress management have a strong impact on the signs, but unpredictably. Take care of yourself, give yourself time and consideration, namely express their grievances are certainly useful decisions, given the importance they have on brain biochemistry, conductor undisputed female cycle.
Cognivo-behavioral therapies have good results in the management of signs.

Not to be confused with anything?
It is difficult to mistake the signs as soon as the cycle ends with the disappearance of signs. However, it is important to be wary of diseases increase premenstrual asthma, lupus, headaches, etc..

And especially wary of endometriosis more common (under the influence of environmental endocrine disruptors?) And widely underdiagnosed.

PMS Preparing consultation

When to see a doctor?
From onset of symptoms to quickly find the appropriate treatment. Women should dare talk to their gynecologist or their GP rather than wait ten years! Especially since the doctor groped usually a bit before finding the most effective treatment staff.

What is the doctor?
He carefully examines and interrogates the woman and search for causes, curable or not, the signs described endometriosis, polycystic ovaries, other gynecological pathology and / or endocrine unknown.

It assesses the impact of signs on the daily life and the risk of a mental disorder known or "limit", such as depression.

A blood test may be necessary and an ultrasound of the pelvis (lower abdomen).

What are the treatment of premenstrual syndrome?
Treatments vary depending on the case and are personalized.
Blocking cyclic hormonal variations is usually effective. It is practiced with estrogen-progestin pill as the woman does not want a pregnancy. Its continuous shooting have more effect than taking sequentially.

Sometimes the pill itself is responsible for premenstrual syndrome. To remedy this, a new oral contraceptive containing a different progestin, drospirenone has been proposed. But it does not seem to have more favorable effects against another premenstrual syndrome (Cochrane database of systematic reviews, 2009).

The hormonal blockade can also be done with analogues of GnRH (pituitary hormone).
Premenstrual dysphoric syndrome should be treated properly with antidepressants most often (serotonin, type Prozac). But their acceptance is not always easy.

Homeopathy and thalassotherapy can give good results. Herbal medicine should consider intake phytoestrogens, the advice of a health professional is advisable.

We call a set of premenstrual syndrome physical and psychological signs recurring female menstrual cycle related. These signs of PMS occur before and during menstruation, then disappear for at least a week later. They must occur in several successive cycles. Otherwise, it speaks only of premenstrual symptoms.

Americans have individualized psychiatric syndrome for mental disorders PMS: premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD), they have included in their classification of psychiatric illnesses in 1994.

What are the risks and health significance of premenstrual syndrome?
If 50 to 80% of women between puberty and menopause suffer from premenstrual symptoms, more or less frequent and severe. Suffers only a small part of a syndrome or premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) or 3-6% of all menstruating women (Anne Gompel).

According to the study Cocoon (Women's Health, 2009), premenstrual syndrome as defined medical affects almost 13% of women and 4% severe. But one year, severely affected women generally are more, and those who did not complain one year before describing this a year later. This is a transient syndrome and more variable than a disease.

Premenstrual syndrome is associated with more divorces, professional and academic failures or poorer performance. It causes a lot of absenteeism and loss of transient and recurrent activity. Its impact on quality of life can be very high, but totally neglected.

What are the causes of PMS?
It would be a disturbance multi-organ related to sudden hormonal changes during ovulation. An argument in this regard is that the symptoms disappear during pregnancy and menopause, and do not exist before puberty. Hormone levels are not the only cause, the sensitivity and the number of receptors for these hormones are probably a major part in the various manifestations of premenstrual syndrome.

Estrogen-progestin contraceptive (pill) in blocking ovulation, hormonal changes removes her, but the therapeutic benefit of PMS is not insured, it may be necessary to try several pills before finding the right one.

Estradiol and progesterone affect the movements of the water in the body and cortisol, as well as the brain. Estrogens stimulate serotonin (neurohormone welfare) and catecholamines (up and general activity), they promote neuronal stability. Progesterone, it inhibits the activity of neurons in general and its metabolites (products of its chemical degradation) have a variety of actions that could explain a part of severe premenstrual syndrome.

Involvement of genes is also very likely, since the twins suffer the same way.
You should also know: the link between premenstrual dysphoric syndrome and major depression was found.

What are the symptoms of premenstrual syndrome?
The symptoms vary in intensity from one woman to another, but are quite similar in general.

- Physical disorders: swelling of the abdomen and / or breasts, headaches, weight gain (water retention), sleep disorders or compulsions for sweet ...

- Psychological disorders: fatigue, anxiety, difficulty concentrating, feeling of being overwhelmed, loss of self-control, aggression, sadness, apathy, lack of motivation, depression ...

These symptoms all have in common the time of their appearance before menstruation and disappear during the following week.

Positive diagnosis is made when a woman has at least five signs every month for a year, always before and during menstruation and a symptom-free interval after menstruation.

Tables are available from self-gynecologists to grade the severity of symptoms and determine precisely the extent of the disease.