Take the PMS Quiz
Premenstrual syndrome (PMS) refers to a range of monthly symptoms that starts one to two weeks before a woman's menstrual period. Most women have at least some PMS symptoms. Learn more about PMS by taking this quiz.
How many different symptoms have been tied to PMS?
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Some women have physical changes; others have emotional changes. Not all women have all symptoms, according to the National Women's Health Information Center. Of the 150 symptoms, these are among the most significant: Physical symptoms include abdominal bloating, headache, weight gain, and breast swelling. Emotional changes include irritability, mood swings, food cravings, and tension. Mental changes include depressive mood, anxiety, lack of concentration, and poor control of impulses.
What has to occur for the symptoms to be diagnosed as PMS?
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Symptoms appear after ovulation, about the 14th day of a woman's monthly cycle, and disappear two weeks later, when her period begins, according to the ACOG. In addition, the symptoms must impair the patient's life. Other illnesses, such as depression, must also be ruled out before a diagnosis of PMS can be made. (PMS can co-exist with and may exacerbate other illnesses and conditions, however. Asthma symptoms, for instance, can worsen with PMS.) Typically, a doctor will ask a patient to keep a diary of symptoms for two to three months before making a diagnosis.
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