Many women suffer the monthly problems of premenstrual syndrome (PMS), which is believed to be hormone related. PMS hit the health agenda in the 1970s and it is only since then that it has been recognised as a genuine health problem. Before it became a 'syndrome', it was called premenstrual tension and referred to the variation of physical and mood symptoms that begin during the last one or two weeks prior to a period and usually end an hour to a few days after menstruation starts.
The specific combination of symptoms is very individual, but common ones include acne, anxiety, fatigue, irritability, fluid retention, forgetfulness, mood swings, bloating, breast tenderness, sweet cravings and weight gain.
Eight in ten women experience some kind of PMS, with an estimated one in ten having severe symptoms. About 3-5 per cent of women have symptoms so severe that it affects their work, education, relationships and/or daily activities. This is equivalent to 500,000 women in the UK alone.
The average age of onset of PMS is 26 and it generally gets worse with age, with the most severe form affecting more women in their forties. As women get older they spend more time in premenstrual phase as the cycle gets shorter and shorter towards menopause, giving rise to more frequent symptoms.
PMS does not occur before the onset of the first period, during pregnancy or after natural or surgical menopause. Although the precise cause remains elusive, ovulation appears to be an important factor, with evidence suggesting that the symptoms are generally a result of changes in brain chemistry triggered by fluctuations in ovarian hormones.
Both oestrogen and progesterone levels generally fall sharply before a period, and this sudden change is thought to trigger PMS. Two major brain chemicals (neurotransmitters) seem to be affected by this change - serotonin and gamme-aminobutyric acid (GABA).
Serotonin - sometimes called the 'happy hormone' - has been shown to help control appetite and carbohydrate cravings. Oestrogen helps to improve mood by keeping up the levels of serotonin. Antidepressants, such as Prozac and Seroxat, are thought to work by helping to maintain levels of serotonin, although there are more natural ways to achieve the same thing. Dopamine is another neurotransmitter involved. Having a well-balanced diet is the best way to provide the nutrients needed for all three of these neurotransmitters to work effectively.
Patrick Holford
- Balance Your Hormones
