Gynecologic Endocrinology & PMS

In the days before her period, a woman may feel irritable.

While the American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists reports that as many as 85 percent of women experience at least one symptom in the seven to 14 days before menstruation, premenstrual syndrome, or PMS, refers to a consistent pattern of disruptive symptoms.

Identification

The MedlinePlus website reports that hormone changes prior to menstruation may cause a variety of symptoms, though the exact cause of PMS is unknown. A look at some of the basics of gynecologic endocrinology provides some insight. According to the Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp., secretion of the hormone progesterone peaks about seven days after ovulation, about the time PMS symptoms generally appear. During this time, estrogen production also increases, though levels remain lower than during ovulation.

Symptoms of PMS

PMS, according to the American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, affects women both emotionally and physically. Common symptoms of PMS include depression, irritability, breast swelling and tenderness, fatigue and aches and pains. The National Institute of Child Health and Human Development reports that a woman who experiences significant pain before her period may suffer from endometriosis, a notable cause of infertility. In this case, she may seek treatment from a gynecologic endocrinologist.

PMS Treatments

The American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists recommends a variety of treatments for PMS, based on the severity of the symptoms. Some women experience relief by engaging in aerobic activity, participating in relaxation exercises and making some simple dietary changes. Women with particularly severe symptoms may need hormonal treatments. Gynecologic endocrinologists generally prescribe hormonal contraceptives, in pill or injectable form, for this purpose.

References

• The American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists: Premenstrual Syndrome
• MedlinePlus: Premenstrual Syndrome
• Merck Sharp and Dohme Corp.: The Merck Manuals Online Medical Library, Menstrual Cycle
• National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health: Endometriosis