What are the symptoms of premenstrual syndrome (PMS)?

Riverside Health System answered:

PMS often includes both physical and emotional symptoms. Common symptoms are:

    • Acne
    • Breast swelling and tenderness
    • Feeling tired
    • Having trouble sleeping
    • Upset stomach, bloating, constipation, or diarrhea
    • Headache or backache
    • Appetite changes or food cravings
    • Joint or muscle pain
    • Trouble concentrating or remembering
    • Tension, irritability, mood swings, or crying spells
    • Anxiety or depression

Symptoms vary from one woman to another. If you think you have PMS, keep track of which symptoms you have and how severe they are for a few months. You can use a calendar to write down the symptoms you have each day or you can use a form to track your symptoms. If you go to the doctor for your PMS, take this form with you.

This answer is based on source information from the National Women's Health Information Center.

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PMS often includes both physical and emotional symptoms. Common symptoms are: • Acne • Breast swelling and tenderness • Feeling tired • Having trouble... More

Dr. Michael T Murray answered:

Typical symptoms of PMS include: acne, decreased energy level, tension, anxiety, irritability, depression, headache, altered sex drive, breast tenderness, fibrocystic breast disease, insomnia, backache, abdominal bloating, and edema of the fingers and ankles. Severe PMS, with depression, irritability, and extreme mood swings, is referred to as premenstrual dysphoric disorder.

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Typical symptoms of PMS include: acne, decreased energy level, tension, anxiety, irritability, depression, headache, altered sex drive, breast tenderness, fibrocystic breast disease, insomnia, backache, abdominal bloating, and edema of the fingers... More

Intermountain Healthcare answered:

If you have premenstrual syndrome (PMS), you may have some of these symptoms before your period:

Breast soreness and swelling
Tiredness and trouble sleeping
Upset stomach, a "full" feeling or swelling in the abdomen
Bad pain in your abdomen that comes and goes (cramps)
Headache
Changes in appetite, or food cravings
Feeling stressed or cranky, crying a lot
Feeling very anxious or sad
Trouble thinking or remembering well

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More Related Answers from Intermountain Healthcare

If you have premenstrual syndrome (PMS), you may have some of these symptoms before your period: Breast soreness and swelling Tiredness and trouble sleeping Upset stomach, a "full" feeling or swelling in the abdomen Bad pain in your abdomen... More

Healthwise answered:

Premenstrual symptoms occur between ovulation and the start of menstrual bleeding. More than 150 symptoms have been linked to PMS. They may vary greatly from cycle to cycle and be worse during times of increased stress.

Common physical symptoms

Bloating, weight gain
Fatigue, lack of energy
Headaches
Cramps, aching muscles and joints, low back pain
Breast swelling and tenderness
Food cravings, especially for sweet or salty foods
Sleeping too much or too little
Low sex drive
Constipation or diarrhea

Mood and behavior symptoms

Sad or depressed mood
Anger, irritability, aggression
Anxiety
Mood swings
Decreased alertness, trouble concentrating
Withdrawal from family and friends

Severe symptoms

Women who have severe premenstrual mood swings, depression, irritability or anxiety (with or without physical symptoms) are said to have premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD). Symptoms generally go away within the first 3 days of menstrual bleeding. This severe type of PMS isn't common.

Premenstrual worsening of other conditions

Some medical conditions may get worse between ovulation and the first day of menstrual bleeding. The conditions most affected include:

Mental health problems such as depression and anxiety disorders.
Migraines.
Seizure disorders.
Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).
Asthma.
Chronic fatigue syndrome.
Allergies.

Are your symptoms really PMS?

What seems like PMS can sometimes be caused by another condition. It's important to know what is causing your symptoms so you can get the right treatment. The best way to learn if your symptoms are PMS is to keep a menstrual diary (What is a PDF document?) for 2 or 3 months and then show it to your health professional.