What is PMDD?
Premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) is a severe form of PMS that includes physical and behavioural symptoms that usually resolve with the onset of menstruation. PMDD causes extreme mood shifts that can disrupt work and damage relationships. Symptoms include extreme sadness, hopelessness, irritability or anger, plus common PMS symptoms such as breast tenderness and bloating.
What is PMS?
A week prior to when you get your periods, you may get depressed, cry often, feel angry, get acne, have tender breasts, and feel heavy or bloated. If you have these problems around the same time every month and they go away when your period starts, you likely have premenstrual syndrome (PMS).
How do I differentiate PMS and PMDD?
But if your PMS symptoms are so extreme that they stop you from doing the normal things that you do at work or at home, or if they affect the way that you relate to the people in your life, you may have premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD), which is a more severe form of PMS.
What are the Signs of PMS & PMDD?
Up to 75% of women who have their periods may have mild PMS, but PMDD is much less common. It affects only between 3% and 8% of women. Women with mild PMS may not need a doctor’s help to cope with the symptoms. But women who have PMDD might need to talk to their doctor about ways to improve their issues.
At first glance, PMS and PMDD may seem to be the same because they have many of the same symptoms, including;
Bloating
Tender breasts
Headaches
Muscle or joint aches and pains
Fatigue
Trouble sleeping
Food cravings
Changes in mood
How are PMS and PMDD treated?
Natural Therapies
Some natural therapies such as taking Vitamin B6, Calcium, Evening Primrose oil, Premular can be consumed.
Vigorous exercise should be done.
Consume diets low in salt and high in fruit and vegetables.
Relaxation therapies such as meditation are highly recommended.
Drug therapies
Progesterone
Progesterone is often recommended for PMS
Serotonin Re-uptake Inhibitors (SSRI)
Surgical treatments
Hysterectomy does not improve PMS. It is the ovarian cycle that triggers the mood centre of the brain and so if the ovaries are left behind, then the PMS will continue after the hysterectomy. However, if a woman with severe PMS is going to have a hysterectomy, then consideration should be given to removing the ovaries and giving back some natural oestrogen (as an implant, patch or gel) to prevent menopausal symptoms.
References
- Webmd. PMS. Accessed on 11tth October 2018.