Premenstrual Syndrome and Premenstrual Dysphoria Disorder

• breast soreness
• bloating
• fatigue

• mood changes
• anxiety, depression
• lack of concentration
• anger
• irritability
• suicidal thoughts

The behavioural symptoms can be debilitating and significantly interfere with your quality of life. The symptoms  occur in the second half of the menstrual cycle, usually in women who have a regular menstrual cycle and they can last characteristically anywhere between five and 14 days and may also include the first three or four days of your period.

Any symptoms that are interfering with your quality of life such as making it impossible for you to work or socialise or interact with your family suggests that treatment and appropriate management is necessary.

It has been shown that blood tests, especially hormone tests, are useless as there is no difference in the hormone levels in women with and without premenstrual syndrome or premenstrual dysphoric disorder.. The only test that may be of value is a thyroid function test as some of the symptoms such as fatigue, can be mimicked by thyroid disease.