Almost all women experience some symptoms before they begin their period. When these symptoms become severe enough to disrupt daily life, they are called premenstrual syndrome, or PMS. It is estimated that 20 percent of women have these emotional or physical changes. In a few women, it will severely effect their work, family, or lifestyle. The main emotional signs include:
* crying spells,
* depression,
* fatigue,
* difficulty thinking or forgetfulness,
* feeling irritable or sensitive, and
* withdrawal from activities.

The main physical signs include:
* abdominal bloating,
* acne,
* breast tenderness,
* headache,
* food cravings, and
* fluid retention.

No one knows the exact cause of PMS, but it is related to hormone changes. There are ways to limit its effect on you. Daily exercise and limiting your caffeine and salt may help decrease the symptoms. Primrose oil, available in health food stores, may be helpful. Over-the-counter drugs, like naproxen or ibuprofen, may be helpful. Sometimes just taking a warm bath, listening to some soothing music, or some other relaxing activity can help.

If you have symptoms despite these treatments, you should seek medical care. Before seeing your healthcare provider, begin to keep a diary of your complaints. Using a rating system, such as one to ten, with ten being most severe, record how severe that day's problems were. This will help your provider figure out just what is wrong. Helpful medications may include:
* antidepressant drugs,
* mild diuretics, or
* hormonal therapy.

PMS is a frustrating problem for many women and their families. You do not need to deal with this by yourself. To learn more about PMS, visit your local library or bookstore for helpful books and articles.

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