PMS and PMDD
This page is reference information compiled from the cited sources. It is not medical advice. For any decision about health, diagnosis or care, consult a qualified professional.
What it is
Premenstrual syndrome (PMS) is a disruptive set of emotional and physical symptoms that regularly occur in the one to two weeks before the start of each menstrual period. Symptoms resolve around the time menstrual bleeding begins. Premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) is a more severe condition that has greater psychological symptoms. The chief complaint for PMS is one or more of the emotional symptoms associated with PMS, such as irritability, tension, or unhappiness. Symptoms appear predictably during the luteal (premenstrual) phase, reduce or disappear predictably shortly before or during menstruation, and remain absent during the follicular (pre-ovulatory) phase. PMS does not produce symptoms during pregnancy or following menopause.
Key facts
Over 90% of women report having some premenstrual symptoms, such as bloating, headaches, and moodiness. Premenstrual symptoms generally do not cause substantial disruption, and only qualify as PMS in approximately 20% of pre-menopausal women. PMDD affects about 3% of women of child-bearing age. The range of PMS symptoms is wide, and most commonly are breast tenderness, bloating, headache, mood swings, depression, anxiety, anger, and irritability. PMS-related symptoms are often present for about six days, and an individual's pattern of symptoms may change over time. To be diagnosed as PMS, rather than a normal discomfort of the menstrual cycle, these symptoms must interfere with daily living, during two menstrual cycles of prospective recording. The exact symptoms and their intensity vary significantly from person to person, and even somewhat from cycle to cycle and over time.
When to seek professional help
The source associates professional help with situations where symptoms are severe enough to cause distress or interfere with everyday life. Professional management may be appropriate when self-care is not adequate. Diagnosis requires that symptoms interfere with normal life, and a daily list of symptoms over a few months may help in diagnosis. Other disorders that cause similar symptoms need to be excluded before a diagnosis is made, as a number of pre-existing medical conditions may be made worse at menstruation. Severe symptoms may qualify as PMDD.
Source: Premenstrual syndrome (CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikipedia)), retrieved 2026-08-27.
