PMS AND MENSTRUAL HEALTH
Painful, heavy, or unpredictable periods are common. That does not mean you have to live with them.
Reviewed by Dr. Samuel
Painful, heavy, or unpredictable periods are common. That does not mean you have to live with them.
Reviewed by Dr. Samuel
Most women have some premenstrual symptoms. Premenstrual syndrome becomes a medical issue when cramping, bloating, breast tenderness, headaches, fatigue, irritability, or mood changes reliably interfere with work, sleep, or relationships in the week or two before your period.
A smaller group experiences premenstrual dysphoric disorder, or PMDD, a more severe form involving significant depression, anxiety, or irritability. PMDD is a recognized condition with real treatment options, and it is frequently dismissed.
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We start by tracking what is actually happening across a cycle rather than at a single visit, and we check for underlying causes including thyroid function, anemia, fibroids, endometriosis, and PCOS. Some of this is evaluated during a routine gynecological exam. Treatment may involve hormonal management, non-hormonal medication, targeted supplements, or lifestyle adjustments. For some patients, treating an underlying condition resolves the symptoms entirely.
If your symptoms are primarily mood-related, our mental health team is part of the same practice, and your providers can work together.
More reading on cycles and reproductive health is in our menstrual and reproductive health articles.
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