Women's Health Articles

If you have visited your doctor looking for PMS relief, you may have been disappointed. Even though the number of women who suffer from the condition is large and the effect it has on their lives and their families is evident, there is no medication that is an effective PMS treatment. In fact, researchers are still debating about how to diagnose PMS and assess the severity of symptoms.

The most severe form of PMS is premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) and it affects an estimated 2-10% of all menstruating women. The symptoms include mood swings, feelings of hopelessness, anger, tension and anxiety. Since these symptoms can be related to a number of psychiatric conditions including depression and anxiety disorder, doctors make the diagnosis of PMDD based upon when the symptoms occur. If they begin and are present in most of the seven days leading up to the start of the menstrual period and disappear within the first few days after, then they are likely due to PMDD.

The only medications approved for treating PMDD are antidepressants. And, these are the most common choice for PMS treatment, no matter the level of severity, even though their effectiveness has not been proven and negative side effects can accompany their use. It isn?t that doctors don?t want to provide PMS relief. It is just that the cause or causes are unknown and can be related to numerous factors in a woman?s life. Hopefully, as the understanding of the condition expands and all of the components are better understood, doctors will be able to provide a treatment plan tailored to the individual and her unique symptoms. But, that?s something that may be far in the future.

Much of the current research surrounding PMS treatment involves botanicals, a subject with which many doctors are unfamiliar. For years, the feeling existed in the medical community that herbs and plants were folk remedies at best, bordered on nonsense and could pose threats to our health. But, there are a growing number of healthcare professionals that recognize the potential of natural health care products and remember that many of today?s modern medicines are derived from plants. Of course, plants and herbs cannot take the place of medical attention for serious health conditions and regular check-ups are a must for early detection and treatment of health threats. But, for PMS relief, plants and herbs work just fine. I can tell you that from personal experience.

It could be that doctors are afraid to recommend a PMS treatment that is not supported by the FDA, but one would think that they could at least provide a patient with known options and not speak negatively about a product with which they are unfamiliar. For example, at least six different clinical studies have shown the effectiveness of chasteberry for PMS relief. But, many doctors still will not recommend it and claim that it was found to be ineffective or had limited benefit. Why it works is unclear. Chemical evaluations have shown that it is a natural anti-inflammatory, inhibiting COX-2 (causes inflammation) activity, without affecting COX-1 enzymes (protect the lining of the stomach). One study suggested that it addressed more of the physical than the emotional symptoms of PMS. But, nature has another compound that works for those.

The seeds of an African plant provide the ingredient for a natural antidepressant called 5-HTP. A prescription antidepressant allows serotonin to be more efficiently used by the body. Studies have shown that women suffering from PMDD have lower levels of serotonin circulating in the bloodstream. 5-HTP can be used by the body to create more serotonin, thus increasing serotonin levels in the blood. Serotonin has many functions in the body, but most important for PMS treatment is that it helps to regulate mood. If you are currently taking a prescription antidepressant, you should check with your doctor before taking 5-HTP for PMS relief.