Study says that premenstrual dysphoric disorder is not PMS

Premenstrual syndrome (PMS) refers to physical and emotional symptoms that occur in the one to two weeks before a woman's period. Symptoms often vary between women and resolve around the start of bleeding. Common symptoms include acne, tender breasts, bloating, feeling tired, irritability, and mood changes.


Premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) is a more severe form of PMS and affects 3 to 8% of menstruating women. In PMDD, women experience distressed mood and behavioural changes in the premenstrual phase of the menstrual cycle. The disorder is still being researched, so there is limited information about it.


As per 2017 study which was done by the NIH’s National Institute of Mental Health, Behavioral Endocrinology Branch attributes PMDD to a dysregulation in gene activity. The findings show that women with PMDD are more sensitive to the effects of sex hormones such as estrogen and progesterone, due to a molecular mechanism in their genes.


The researchers had also revealed that turning off estrogen and progesterone eliminated PMDD symptoms while reintroducing the hormones triggered the re-emergence of symptoms. The best treatments for PMDD include certain medication, cognitive behavioural therapy, and, in extreme cases, removal of the uterus and ovaries through surgery.