Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS) is disorder occurs in women during their reproductive years. PMS is characterized by between one and one hundred physical and emotional symptoms that commonly repeat themselves on a cyclic basis associated with the woman’s Menstrual cycle.

PMS symptoms always occur during the week to two weeks prior to the onset of menstruation and disappear shortly after the onset of the menstrual flow. Some of the most common physical symptoms are: breast tenderness, abdominal bloating, food cravings, swelling; and emotional symptoms including anxiety, irritability, difficulty coping, and depression. The nature and severity of the symptoms vary widely from woman to woman. Some women may only feel edgy or tired for a day or two each month. Others may experience discomfort so severe that it interferes with normal activities for more than one week of every month.

Each month, tens of millions of women throughout the world suffer the symptoms of PMS. It is estimated that between 85-90% of all women at some time during their menstruating years suffer from PMS. For many of these women PMS robs them of their vitality, energy and well-being. Some are unable to work and some even lose their jobs because of it. Personal relationships often suffer and most affected women will feel a decreased sense of self-value and a diminished self-image. Families often suffer severely from the effects of PMS. Communications between a husband and wife are impaired. Children may be left confused and lost. In the most extreme cases women either abuse their spouse or children or may be abused by husband or other family members. In many cases, the ultimate consequence is divorce, shattered dreams and chaos. Teen girls often sexually act out and have early sex which may lead to pregnancy or even sexually transmitted diseases. Many women drink to control their symptom and alcoholism is common.
While most women may have a milder form, PMS can progress and rapidly change leaving women feeling trapped in its wake.
In our book Premenstrual Syndrome, A Guide to Symptom Relief we present an over view of PMS, its diagnoses, its affects on women and what can be done about it. This book is a short summary of PMS and its effects and how it affects women.