Premenstrual Syndrome

Premenstrual syndrome is a disruptive set of emotional and physical symptoms that regularly occur in the one to two weeks before the start of each menstrual period. The cause is unknown, but the underlying mechanism is believed to involve changes in hormone levels during the menstrual cycle. It commonly presents with breast tenderness, bloating, headache, mood swings, depression, anxiety, anger, and irritability, and symptoms must interfere with daily living across two menstrual cycles of prospective recording to qualify as premenstrual syndrome rather than ordinary menstrual discomfort.