{"id":11580,"date":"2021-02-09T12:10:40","date_gmt":"2021-02-09T18:10:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/naturalwomanhood.org\/topics\/pms-pmdd-depression\/"},"modified":"2025-09-12T11:25:34","modified_gmt":"2025-09-12T16:25:34","slug":"%d0%bf%d0%bc%d1%81-%d0%bf%d0%bc%d0%b4%d0%b4-%d0%b4%d0%b5%d0%bf%d1%80%d0%b5%d1%81%d1%81%d0%b8%d1%8f","status":"publish","type":"topics","link":"https:\/\/naturalwomanhood.org\/ru\/topic\/pms-pmdd-depression\/","title":{"rendered":"\u041f\u041c\u0421 \u0418 \u041f\u041c\u0414\u0420"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Premenstrual syndrome, better known as PMS, has long been accepted as a fact of life by many women. After all, if you\u2019re a woman of reproductive age, chances are good that at some point you\u2019ve experienced an uncomfortable combination of telltale symptoms warning you about your period\u2019s impending arrival\u2014from headaches to mood swings to bloating before your period, and more. But does it have to be this way? Read on to find answers to all of your most frequently asked questions about PMS\u2014and her even more sinister relative, Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder (PMDD). <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Is my PMS \u201creal\u201d or is it all in my head?<\/b><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Yes, premenstrual syndrome (PMS) is definitely real! PMS refers to the cyclical emotional, behavioral, and physical symptoms that many women experience during the second half of their menstrual cycles\u2013that is, in the weeks or days leading up to their periods. Some examples of physical symptoms include bloating, fatigue, acne, and breast tenderness, while examples of emotional or behavioral symptoms include sadness, anxiety, moodiness, and changes in appetite. It is estimated that nearly <\/span>75% of women<\/span><\/a> experience some form of PMS, with symptoms ranging in severity from mild, to seriously disruptive of a woman\u2019s everyday life.   <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

What causes PMS? Is my PMS normal?<\/b><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

There isn\u2019t a unified consensus around what exactly causes PMS. Some PMS symptoms are likely a normal sign of the hormonal shifts that naturally occur during a woman\u2019s cycle. Estrogen dominates the first half of the cycle, until ovulation is triggered. After ovulation, estrogen begins to fall, and progesterone rises as the body prepares itself for a potential pregnancy in case the egg is fertilized and implants in the lining of the uterus. Therefore, if symptoms of breast tenderness, moodiness, and bloating occur only one to two days before your period, and are generally mild, and do not cause severe distress or functional impairment, they are not considered signs of PMS. In fact, they may just be <\/span>a few of the signs that your fertility is operating as it should.<\/span><\/a> <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Some girls and women may be more sensitive to these natural hormonal fluctuations than others. They may experience more severe symptoms, beginning earlier and lasting longer than the day or two leading up to their period, which may cause them to miss school or work. These girls and women meet the diagnostic criteria for PMS. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Some researchers theorize that a hormonal imbalance (namely <\/span>low progesterone<\/span><\/a>) may be at play with more severe PMS symptoms. Various dietary and lifestyle choices may also contribute to certain PMS symptoms, including overconsumption of sugar, lack of sleep, and stress (among others\u2013more on this, below). <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Questions about the most common PMS symptoms:<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n