I am noticing that a few days before every period I’m becoming very emotional, very moody, as well as having difficulty to sleep. All I want to do is cry and curl into a ball. Unfortunately I still need to go to work as I cannot take a week off every time I’m on my period.
I’ve searched this on Google and it seems that it could be Pre-Menstrual Syndrome (PMS). I have been noticing this for the past 8 periods.
What can I do to help reduce or not experience these PMS symptoms at all? Can anything help me? Or is there maybe something that I can change to make it better? (Anonymous Reader)
Yes, you are probably right: you may well have PMS or Pre menstrual Syndrome, which is the name given to the physical and emotional symptoms affecting your daily life in the 2 weeks before you have your period. These symptoms usually get better once your period starts. However, if you are not absolutely sure, you should record your symptoms in a diary for at least 2-3 months. Use a scale from 0 to 5 where 0 is fine and 5 is the worst you could possible feel.
Although nearly all women have some premenstrual symptoms, they can vary from month to month. The most common are mood swings, feeling depressed, irritable or bad-tempered, upset, anxious or emotional, tiredness or having trouble sleeping, headaches, food cravings, feeling bloated and tender breasts.
We don’t actually know what causes PMS but may it be linked to changes in the levels of your hormones and other chemicals during your menstrual cycle.
If you have not already done so, I would suggest more exercise, eating a healthy balanced diet as well anything that helps you to manage your stress, for example by using meditation, yoga and mindfulness.
There is a particular type of talk therapy called Cognitive Behavioural Therapy which involves discussing your symptoms with a therapist. This can help you learn new ways of managing some of your symptoms to reduce their impact on your daily life.
You may also try Magnesium and B vitamins, Calcium and Vitamin D supplements as well as herbs such as Agnus-Castus or Ginkgo. Breast tenderness can be helped by Evening Primrose Oil.
If these do not help enough, then you should speak to your GP because there are both hormonal and non-hormonal treatments that may help.
Prof Isabel Stabile, Gynaecologist
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Professor Stabile is a gynaecologist in private practice at St James Hospital, Malta. She is also currently Director of the International School for Foundation Studies and Medical Foundation Programme at the University of Malta. Currently her main research interests are in medical education.
