University Health Care provides patients complete care across all medical specialty and sub-specialty areas. Please see the comprehensive listing of all our services below or type what you are looking for in the search box:
Premenstrual syndrome (PMS) refers to a range of monthly symptoms that starts one to two weeks before a woman's menstrual period. Most women have at least some PMS symptoms. Learn more about PMS by taking this quiz.
1. Which group of women is more likely to develop PMS?
You didn't answer this question.
You answered
The correct answer is
One culture may report different symptoms from another culture, but women from all walks of life are affected.
2. What percentage of menstruating women reports at least one symptom of PMS?
You didn't answer this question.
You answered
The correct answer is
But only 5 to 10 percent report symptoms severe enough to interfere with daily life, according to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.
3. A more severe form of PMS is also known as:
You didn't answer this question.
You answered
The correct answer is
Premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) is usually used as a designation for severe cases of PMS. ("Dysphoric" means the opposite of "euphoric," which is a comfortable, happy feeling.)
4. How many different symptoms have been tied to PMS?
You didn't answer this question.
You answered
The correct answer is
Some women have physical changes; others have emotional changes. Not all women have all symptoms, according to the National Women's Health Resource Center. Of the 150 symptoms, these are among the most significant: Physical symptoms include abdominal bloating, headache, weight gain, and breast swelling. Emotional changes include irritability, mood swings, food cravings, and tension. Mental changes include depressive mood, anxiety, lack of concentration, and poor control of impulses.
5. Symptoms of PMS can be confused with:
You didn't answer this question.
You answered
The correct answer is
It can also be confused with diabetes, thyroid problems, allergies, and endometriosis, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists says.
6. Which of these hormones is thought to play a role in PMS?
You didn't answer this question.
You answered
The correct answer is
The exact mechanisms that cause PMS aren't yet understood, but serotonin, testosterone (produced in small quantities by the ovaries), and estrogen, plus other hormones and chemicals, may play a role, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists says.
7. What has to occur for the symptoms to be diagnosed as PMS?
You didn't answer this question.
You answered
The correct answer is
Symptoms appear after ovulation, about the 14th day of a woman's monthly cycle, and disappear two weeks later, when her period begins, according to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. In addition, the symptoms must impair the patient's life. Other illnesses, such as depression, must also be ruled out before a diagnosis of PMS can be made. (PMS can co-exist with and may exacerbate other illnesses and conditions, however. Asthma symptoms, for instance, can worsen with PMS.) Typically, a health care provider will ask a patient to keep a diary of symptoms for two to three months before making a diagnosis.
8. What lifestyle change will ease PMS symptoms?
You didn't answer this question.
You answered
The correct answer is
The health care provider may recommend taking calcium, magnesium, and vitamin E to help relieve symptoms. Recent research has indicated that estrogen regulates the levels of calcium and magnesium in the body, so taking additional calcium may help symptoms. Taking magnesium may help with symptoms of fluid retention and breast tenderness. For severe cases of PMS, a doctor may prescribe an antidepressant known as a serotonin selective reuptake inhibitor.
