Diagnosing Premenstrual Syndrome

Diagnosing premenstrual syndrome may prove to be a challenging endeavor according to many medical professionals. This stems from the fact that as many as three quarters of all women experience symptoms that are common to premenstrual syndrome, but only ten percent of these women actually suffer from premenstrual syndrome, or "PMS".

Women that suffer from premenstrual syndrome will experience symptoms that actually interfere with their day to day lives. Many women find that the effects of the condition have devastating effects on their work, their academics, their relationships, and their life as a whole. The specific cause of this condition is not known but theories abound that it is directly related to fluctuations of the hormones in the body. 

Symptoms 

When a female experiences premenstrual syndrome, there are many symptoms that may be experienced. The amount of symptoms that may be experienced, as well as the severity of those symptoms are known to vary from one individual to another. The female that experiences this condition may not experience the same symptoms each month. Below, you will find the most common symptoms that medical professionals evaluate when diagnosing premenstrual syndrome: 

• Many women notice that their breasts become extremely tender.  

• It is common for many women to gain small degrees of weight.  

• Bloating is very common among premenstrual syndrome sufferers.  

• Many women experience cognitive complications such as complications in focusing and concentrating on tasks.  

• Many women have been known to become quite aggressive while experiencing PMS.

• Pain throughout the body such as headaches, pain in the back, and muscle cramping is quite common among sufferers.  

• Many women will start to have strong cravings for certain foods and many will indulge in overeating while suffer from this menstrual related syndrome.  

• It is very common for women to experience moderate to severe fatigue while suffering from PMS.  

• Mood swings are quite common among women experiencing premenstrual syndrome. It is common for women to cry easily, display irritability, high levels of anxiety, and even severe depression.  

Diagnostic Tools 

Doctors may diagnose premenstrual syndrome in many different ways. First, a thyroid test may be administered in order to determine if this gland is functioning appropriately. Many doctors may ask their patients keep a journal of the symptoms that they experience for a period of up to three months so that they are able to determine if the woman is truly experience premenstrual syndrome.

Medical professionals will also determine if the symptoms that the female is experiencing interferes with their overall quality of life, their sleep cycle, and their day to day activities. If a medical professional is unable to rule out other medical conditions and find that the symptoms experienced are common to those experienced by women experiencing premenstrual syndrome, then it is likely that PMS will be diagnosed.