Find Relief From PMS So Your Cycle Doesn’t Have to Control Your Life
Bloating, breast tenderness, headaches, fatigue, mood changes, irritability, cramps, and food cravings can all occur in the days leading up to your period. For some people, these symptoms are mild and manageable. For others, they can significantly affect work, relationships, sleep, exercise, and everyday life.
At Wild Horse Health, our General Medicine Department takes a comprehensive approach to PMS. We look at your symptoms in relation to your menstrual cycle, overall health, nutrition, medications, lifestyle, and other potential causes to develop an individualized treatment plan.
Premenstrual syndrome (PMS) refers to a group of physical and emotional symptoms that occur during the days or weeks before menstruation and typically improve once the period begins or shortly afterward. PMS is different for everyone. Some people experience primarily physical symptoms, while others experience significant changes in mood, energy, sleep, or concentration.
Common Symptoms of PMS
PMS symptoms generally follow a cyclical pattern, appearing before menstruation and improving after the period begins. Tracking symptoms over multiple menstrual cycles can help determine whether a pattern is present.
What Is the Difference Between PMS and PMDD?
PMS and PMDD can cause similar symptoms, but PMDD is a more severe condition that is characterized by significant mood and behavioral symptoms that interfere substantially with daily functioning.
PMDD can include:
If emotional symptoms are severe or consistently interfere with your relationships, work, or daily activities, further evaluation is important.
Severe symptoms should not simply be dismissed as “normal PMS.” If symptoms are significantly interfering with your work, relationships, daily activities, or quality of life, you may have premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) or another condition that requires evaluation.
Seek prompt medical attention for:
Our approach focuses on identifying patterns and contributing factors rather than simply treating individual symptoms.
Depending on your symptoms and medical history, treatment may include:
Treatment is individualized because there is no single approach that works for everyone with PMS.
The exact cause of PMS is not completely understood. Symptoms appear to be related to the body’s response to the normal hormonal changes that occur during the menstrual cycle. Hormone levels change significantly after ovulation and again as menstruation approaches. Some people appear to be more sensitive to these normal hormonal fluctuations than others.
After ovulation, estrogen and progesterone levels change as the body prepares for a potential pregnancy. If pregnancy does not occur, these hormones decline, triggering menstruation.
These hormonal changes can influence:
Changes in reproductive hormones can also influence brain signaling systems involved in mood and emotional regulation. Serotonin, in particular, plays an important role in some PMS and PMDD symptoms.
Symptoms can be influenced by:
These factors do not necessarily cause PMS, but addressing them may help reduce symptom severity.
There is no single blood test or laboratory test that can diagnose PMS. Diagnosis is primarily based on the timing, type, severity, and cyclical nature of symptoms.
We discuss:
Tracking your symptoms over several menstrual cycles can be extremely helpful.
We may recommend documenting:
A consistent relationship between symptoms and the menstrual cycle can help distinguish PMS from conditions that cause symptoms throughout the month.
Depending on your symptoms, your evaluation may include:
Additional examination or testing may be recommended when symptoms suggest another medical condition.
Routine hormone testing is not generally required to diagnose PMS. However, laboratory testing may be appropriate when we need to evaluate other potential causes of your symptoms.
Depending on your presentation, testing may include evaluation for:
Testing is selected based on your individual symptoms rather than using a standard laboratory panel for every patient.
PMS may be more likely or more severe in people with:
Your menstrual symptoms deserve more than being told to simply “deal with it.”During your visit, we take the time to understand how your symptoms change throughout your cycle and how they affect your daily life.
Your evaluation may include:
Our goal is to help you understand what is happening during your cycle and what can be done to improve your symptoms.
Many people experience some symptoms before their period. However, symptoms that are severe, worsening, or significantly interfering with your life deserve evaluation. You do not have to simply accept debilitating symptoms as a normal part of menstruation.
PMS symptoms commonly begin during the one to two weeks before menstruation and improve once the period begins. The exact timing varies from person to person.
Changes in hormones, sleep, mood, appetite, and other physiological processes throughout the menstrual cycle can contribute to fatigue. Persistent fatigue outside the premenstrual period may indicate another underlying issue and should be evaluated.
Changes in appetite and food cravings are common PMS symptoms. Hormonal changes and their effects on appetite-regulating pathways may contribute to these changes.
Yes. PMS can be associated with changes in mood, irritability, anxiety, and low mood. When these symptoms are severe and consistently occur during the premenstrual phase, PMDD should also be considered.
Diet can influence several symptoms associated with PMS. Maintaining regular meals and a balanced diet may be helpful, while some people find that reducing excessive caffeine, alcohol, salt, or highly processed foods improves specific symptoms.
Regular physical activity may help reduce several PMS symptoms, including mood changes, fatigue, and some physical discomfort. The type and intensity of exercise should be adjusted based on your symptoms and overall health.
Usually, no. PMS is primarily diagnosed based on the pattern of symptoms throughout the menstrual cycle. Hormone testing may be considered when another medical condition is suspected.
Consider evaluation when premenstrual mood or physical symptoms are severe enough to interfere with work, relationships, school, or daily activities—particularly when symptoms improve after menstruation and return consistently during subsequent cycles.
Wild Horse Health is a cash-pay clinic. We do not bill insurance directly, but:
Your menstrual cycle shouldn’t have to dictate how you feel every month.
If PMS is affecting your mood, energy, sleep, relationships, or ability to function, our General Medicine Department can help evaluate your symptoms and identify an individualized approach to managing them
Serving patients across Tempe, Phoenix, and the East Valley
