Premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) refers to a group of emotional and physical symptoms that begin a week or two before your period.

PMDD is similar to premenstrual syndrome (PMS), but its symptoms, especially emotional symptoms, are more severe.

If your PMS symptoms are severe and interfere with your daily life, you may have PMDD. Read on to learn more about symptoms and how to treat them.

See more: list of gynecologists and obstetricians

What are the symptoms of PMDD?

Typically, PMDD symptoms start 7 to 10 days before your period....this time is approximate and subject to change.

Similar to PMS, PMDD also has emotional and physical symptoms... but the emotional symptoms may be more severe than the physical symptoms or vice versa.

Emotional symptoms of PMDD can include:

• Anxiety or nervousness
• Anger
• cry
• Feeling out of control
• Forgetfulness
• Lack of interest in activities and relationships
• Excitability
• bad temper
• cases of horror
• paranoia
• Grief
• Suicidal thoughts

Physical symptoms of PMDD can include:

• Acne
• back pain
• Abdominal bloating
• Breast swelling and tenderness
Digestive problems, including constipation, diarrhea, nausea, or vomiting
• muscle cramps
• dizziness
• Headache
• Heartbeat
• Change in appetite
• joint or muscle pain
• Muscle spasm
• Painful menstruation
• Decreased libido

These symptoms, especially emotional symptoms, can cause major disruption in daily life, interfering with work, school or relationships... They go away on their own with the onset of menstruation and return after the next ovulation.

Read more: Menstrual cups and menstrual relief

What causes PMDD?

Experts are still trying to figure out the root cause of PMDD.... But most of them believe that this disorder is a response to the change in hormone level that occurs during the menstrual cycle.

During the menstrual cycle, the body experiences a natural rise and fall of the hormones estrogen and progesterone. This can affect levels of serotonin, a neurotransmitter that plays a large role in mood.

People with PMDD may also be sensitive to these hormonal fluctuations.

In 2017, researchers at the National Institutes of Health found that people with PMDD have genetic changes that cause their cells to overreact to estrogen and progesterone. They believe this overreaction may be responsible for PMDD symptoms.

Is there a way to test for PMDD?

There is no specific test that doctors can use to diagnose PMDD. Instead, a gynecologist will likely start by doing a physical exam and ordering some basic blood tests.

This method can help rule out other possible causes of symptoms, such as:

• Chronic fatigue syndrome endometriosis
• Fibroma
• Fibromyalgia
• Hormonal problems
• Severe depression
• Migraine disorder
• Menopause
• panic disorder

Write down when symptoms appear and disappear... Be sure to give this information to your gynecologist.

For ease of use, use a period tracking program and add your desired symptoms to it.. You can draw a chart to track the symptoms.

After tracking your symptoms for a few months, you can see how they change throughout your cycle and how they affect your daily life... This is very helpful in ruling out other conditions.

Be sure to talk to your doctor about any history of mental health problems... In some people, hormonal changes before the period can worsen previous symptoms.

Diagnostic criteria

In general, a gynecologist will consider a diagnosis of PMDD if you experience at least five of the following symptoms seven to ten days before your period: (ten menstrual symptoms)

• Mood swings
• Irritability or anger
• depressive state
• feeling of despair
• Anxiety or tension
• Decreased interest in friends, work and other activities
• Difficulty concentrating
• Fatigue, lack of energy
• Change in appetite
• Difficulty sleeping or sleeping too much
• Feeling out of control
• Physical symptoms such as bloating, chest pain, joint or muscle pain, and headache

How is PMDD treated?

There is no single cure for PMDD, but different things can help control symptoms. It's best to try a few different methods before you know what works best for you.

Lifestyle change

In some people, making a few changes to your daily habits can make a big difference in PMDD symptoms, including:

• Frequent exercise.... No need to do intense exercises in the gym.... Every day you can boost your mood with a brisk 30-minute walk around the neighborhood.
• Stress Management... It is difficult to avoid stress completely, but try to avoid the main stressors as much as possible... This may include helping a co-worker, using a relaxation technique, such as yoga or meditation, or using a good schedule.
• Observe moderation....Reduce the consumption of sweets and foods rich in sodium...Also, reducing the consumption of caffeine and alcohol can be helpful.
• Eat to change your mood... Include foods that contain lean protein, complex carbohydrates, fish, nuts, chicken, and whole grains in your diet. These types of foods can increase levels of tryptophan, a chemical the body uses to produce serotonin.... Remember that hormonal changes can cause serotonin levels to decrease.

Keep in mind that these changes may take a few weeks to have a significant effect on symptoms. Don't be discouraged if you don't see immediate results.

Cure

Working with a therapist can help you manage the emotional challenges of PMDD. A specific type of treatment called cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) can be very helpful.

This approach helps create new behaviors and thought patterns to function better in difficult situations.... Using CBT, a therapist can guide you in developing helpful tools to deal with premenstrual mood swings.

Drug therapy

If other treatments fail, your doctor may recommend medication to relieve symptoms.

Antidepressants

Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), a type of antidepressant, are the main drug treatment for the emotional and physical symptoms of PMDD. These drugs work by increasing serotonin levels in the brain.

SSRIs used to treat PMDD include:

• Citalopram (Celexa)
• Acitalopram (Lexapro)
• Fluoxetine (Prozac, Sarafen)
• Paroxetine (Paxil, Paxva)
• Sertraline (Zelft)

Other antidepressants that are sometimes used to treat PMDD include:

• Buspirone
• Duloxetine (Cymbalta)
• Venlafaxine (Effexor)

The appropriate daily dose for some people is fixed, while for others it should be increased within one to two weeks leading to menstruation. The doctor recommends the drug and dose with the most benefits and the least side effects.

Hormonal drugs

PMDD symptoms usually begin after ovulation... Hormonal medications, including birth control pills that prevent ovulation, are effective in preventing PMDD symptoms.

Contraceptive pills

In some people, hormonal birth control pills help reduce PMDD symptoms.... But in some cases, they only aggravate the symptoms.

YAZ is currently the only FDA-approved birth control pill to treat PMDD... but doctors can still prescribe other birth control pills for PMDD... This is what is known as off-label use.

Most birth control pills contain 21 pills, followed by placebo pills that only contain sugar and are taken for a week...

If you are over 25 or smoke, birth control pills may not be a safe option.

gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) agonists

GnRH agonists, such as leuprolide, stop the ovaries from producing estrogen and progesterone.

Although this helps a lot with PMDD symptoms, it temporarily puts a person in a menopausal state that can cause PMDD-like symptoms, including:

• Depression
• Anxiety
• Difficulty concentrating

Your doctor can give you low doses of estrogen and progesterone to prevent these side effects, but even low doses of these hormones may trigger PMDD symptoms.

Where can I find support for managing PMDD?

Living with PMDD is difficult and has a significant impact on your daily life...but awareness of PMDD is growing and new resources are emerging that can help you connect with others and raise awareness.

• In addition to the provider directory mentioned earlier, IAPMD offers a wide variety of other resources, including symptom tracking sheets, information booklets you can share with loved ones, lists of online support groups, and more.
• Me v PMDD is free software that allows you to track your symptoms and treatments.... The company also has a blog that often shares stories from real people with PMDD.

Outlook

After you reach menopause and stop menstruating, PMDD goes away on its own. Your symptoms may also change over time, sometimes in a positive way.

Symptom tracking can help you better understand how symptoms change over time and be more productive.

Remember, you may need to try several methods before choosing the most appropriate treatment.. This can be a frustrating process, so don't neglect online forums and reach out to others.

Communicating with others can help make the process easier to relieve frustration or talk about a treatment option... You can also use the GCORP LLC website to consult with an OB/GYN.

Source: Healthline