Before menstruation, I get irritated and can't control my appetite... but when menstruation starts, it heals. Have you ever experienced something like this? If you have these symptoms every month, you may have PMS (Premenstrual Syndrome). Many women experience PMS symptoms such as irritability before menstruation and increased appetite.
Especially when mental symptoms such as irritability and depression among PMS are severe, it may interfere with daily life and interpersonal relationships, so it is necessary to see a medical institution early.
Find out in this article
- When and what department should I go to when I see a hospital for PMS?
- Things to do before the examination
- About examination methods and treatment methods
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Symptoms of PMS (premenstrual syndrome)
PMS is an abbreviation for Premenstrual Syndrome, which means "premenstrual syndrome". PMS is defined as a variety of mental and physical symptoms that develop 3-10 days before menstruation and diminish or disappear with the onset of menstruation1).
Specific physical symptoms of PMS include breast swelling, swelling, and headaches, while mental symptoms include depression, irritability, and anxiety. However, individual differences are large, and it is said that there are 200 types of symptoms.
Besides PMS, have you ever heard the term PMDD? This is called premenstrual dysphoric disorder, and it refers to PMS with particularly strong psychotic symptoms2).
PMDD can affect daily life and relationships and may require treatment.
If you are worried about PMS (premenstrual syndrome), go to the hospital
A PMS upset is a disorder that can occur every month with each menstrual cycle. When you feel that it is painful to worry and endure every month, we recommend that you visit a hospital once.
The answer to the question of what department to visit is gynecology.
Of course, you can also receive gynecological treatment at the obstetrics and gynecology department and the ladies clinic, so please visit one of them.
If your symptoms are severe enough to interfere with your daily life, or if you have to take time off from work or school, see a doctor as soon as possible and try not to take it all by yourself.
time to go to the hospital
Some people worry about when to go to the hospital. Basically, when the symptoms are severe, it is okay to see a doctor at any time. It's easy to hesitate when you're menstruating, but you can check how your symptoms have changed after menstruation, so there's no problem. Please see a doctor at that timing when you feel it is painful.
How to tell your doctor/Points to note before seeing a doctor
Have you ever had the experience of being nervous when you went to the hospital and not being able to communicate well? It is a good idea to write down any changes in your physical condition or painful symptoms in advance so that you can accurately convey your symptoms.
In addition, if you can answer the last menstrual start date, menstrual period, menstrual cycle, etc. immediately, the examination will proceed smoothly.
You may also have an internal examination. We recommend wearing a loose-fitting skirt or dress, as it will be easier to change clothes and you can go up to the examination table while wearing it.
PMS (premenstrual syndrome) test details
Find out what kind of tests are done if you are diagnosed with PMS. Common tests include a medical history, blood test, urine test, pelvic examination, and ultrasound. In addition, blood pressure, weight changes, pulse rate, thyroid examination, etc. are used to eliminate the possibility of diseases other than gynecological diseases2).
Blood tests and urine tests are very important because they allow us to understand the state of the whole body, such as the state of hormones, anemia, the presence or absence of ovulation, and liver function.
In addition, during the pelvic examination, the size and tenderness of the uterus, the presence or absence of a mass, etc. are checked, and endometriosis and uterine fibroids are examined2).
These various tests are very important to determine whether other diseases are hidden and whether PMS is the cause of painful symptoms.
How to treat PMS (Premenstrual Syndrome)
Finally, I will tell you how to treat PMS. Once diagnosed with PMS, there are two types of treatment: non-pharmacological and pharmacological.
If the symptoms are mild, non-pharmacological treatment such as lifestyle improvement is the main treatment. We will monitor changes in symptoms by following a regular diet, exercising, and reducing stress2). In the diet, it is recommended to be conscious of carbohydrates and proteins, and to refrain from refined sugar, salt, and caffeine3).
If your symptoms do not improve with lifestyle improvements, if your PMS symptoms are severe, or if you are diagnosed with PMDD (premenstrual dysphoric disorder), drug treatment will be selected according to your symptoms.
The established treatments for PMDD are treatment with serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and hormones used to treat depression 3).
If physical symptoms such as lower abdominal pain and headache are severe, we will proceed with the treatment of PMS with various medicines such as antipyretic analgesics and Chinese herbal medicines to improve blood circulation 2).
Also read the following articles
Explains how to treat PMS symptoms with the pill
Incorporating Chinese herbal medicine may lead to alleviation of various symptoms
Taking herbal medicines is also effective for painful PMS symptoms. Kampo medicine comprehensively reviews various things such as the person's constitution and lifestyle, and gradually improves symptoms from the inside of the body. There are various herbal medicines, but the herbal medicines that are effective for the symptoms of PMS are as follows.
- Kamishoyosan: Dizziness, headache, anxiety, irritability, sweating, etc. caused by stress
- Toki Shakuyakusan: Dizziness, stiff shoulders, lower back pain, cold legs, heavy head, etc.
There are individual differences in the symptoms of PMS, and it is necessary to take Chinese herbal medicine that matches the symptoms . Kampo medicine gradually improves the symptoms, so it is easy to incorporate it into your life, so if you want to alleviate the symptoms little by little, please consult your doctor or pharmacist.
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summary
PMS is a ailment that many menstruating women experience and that haunts them on a monthly basis. PMS itself is not a life-or-death disease, so many people give up on it because it can't be helped.
However, it is possible that the symptoms you thought were PMS were actually caused by another disease. If you have painful symptoms, do not worry alone, please consult a gynecologist as soon as possible.
In addition, since it is possible to predict when PMS is difficult to some extent, it is important to manage it by not accumulating stress during that period and securing sleep time.
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References
1) Japan Society of Obstetrics and Gynecology: “Obstetrics and Gynecology Clinical Practice Guidelines Gynecology Outpatient Edition 2020” https://www.jsog.or.jp/activity/pdf/gl_fujinka_2020.pdf
2) Nahoko Shirato: “Diagnosis and Treatment of PMS and PMDD – Differentiation from Other Diseases –” 77:360-366, 2017 https://www.jstage.jst.go.jp/article/jshowaunivsoc/77/4 /77_360/_pdf/-char/ja
3) Tenpei Otsubo: “Pathology and Treatment of PMS/PMDD from the Perspective of Psychiatry” Women’s Psychosomatic Medicine J Jp Soc Psychosom Obstet Gynecol 22-3,258-265 https://www.jstage.jst.go.jp/article/jspog/ 22/3/22_258/_pdf
