Differentiating PMDD Severe Signs and Symptoms From PMS

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Introduction

PMS is a word or phrase, often used to describe a girl or woman’s unusual or erratic actions or behaviors. Often to mock and degrade a female. What if I told you PMS is real? What if I told you that girls and women sometimes experience different emotions and behaviors before menstruation, sometimes far beyond their control? That some females experience feelings of rage or even become suicidal before menstruation. Today, we will look at PMS and how it affects girls and women. We will also discuss PMDD, a more severe form of PMS. 

Premenstrual Syndrome

PMS is the acronym used to address PreMenstrual Syndrome. Clinically, PMS is a collection of emotional or physical symptoms: bloating, breast tenderness, increased hunger, weepiness, and irritability. These symptoms are seen before menstruation every month. The prevalence of PMS reports in 20%-32% of the premenopausal female population and 30%-40% of the reproductive population. That said, not all females experience PMS. 

Moreover, girls and women are more likely to experience PMS if they have a specific lifestyle. For instance, women with a BMI higher than 30 are three times more likely to have PMS than those with a healthy weight. Furthermore, genetics, family history, and cultural and environmental factors contribute to PMS. 

Figure 1: Prevalence of PMS in Different Weight Status Among Adolescent Girls (ages 11-21)

PMS Symptoms

The symptoms of PMS can result in an array of unpleasant events. Ranging from snapping at someone because of mood swings or your breasts hurting because of breast tenderness. Physical symptoms of PMS can include:

  • Swollen or tender breasts
  • Constipation or diarrhea
  • Bloating or a gassy feeling
  • Cramping
  • Headache or backache
  • Clumsiness
  • Lower tolerance for noise or light    

Emotional or mental symptoms of PMS include:

  • Irritability or hostile behavior
  • Feeling tired
  • Sleep problems (sleeping too much or too little)
  • Appetite changes or food cravings
  • Trouble with concentration or memory
  • Tension or anxiety
  • Depression, feelings of sadness, or crying spells
  • Mood swings
  • Less interest in sex

Next, we will talk about PMDD and what that looks like

Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder

PMDD is a very severe form of Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS). PMDD speaks to PreMenstrual Dysphoric Disorder which causes a range of emotional and physical symptoms every month during the week or two before your period. Symptoms may be similar to PMS, but PMDD symptoms differ. Approximately 5% to 8% of women have moderate-to-severe symptoms that can cause significant distress and functional impairment. 

PMDD groups symptoms into a mood or physically-related category. These symptoms are specific, causing sufferers moments of extreme highs and lows. 

PMDD Symptoms

At least 5 of the following 11 symptoms (including at least 1 of the first 4 listed) should be present:

  • Markedly depressed mood, feelings of hopelessness, or self-deprecating thoughts
  • Marked anxiety, tension, feelings of being “keyed up” or “on edge”
  • Marked affective lability
  • Persistent and marked anger or irritability or increased interpersonal conflicts
  • Decreased interest in usual activities (e.g., work, school, friends, and hobbies)
  • Subjective sense of difficulty in concentrating
  • Lethargy, easy fatigability, or marked lack of energy
  • Marked change in appetite, overeating, or specific food cravings
  • Hypersomnia or insomnia
  • A subjective sense of being overwhelmed or out of control
  • Other physical symptoms: such as breast tenderness or swelling, headaches, joint or muscle pain, a sensation of bloating, or weight gain.     

Furthermore, the cause of PMDD is unknown. However, traumatic events and preexisting anxiety disorders are risk factors for PMDD development. 

Compare and Contrast

Although thought to be interchangeable, there is a vast difference between the two conditions. PMS causes mood swings and irritability, and so does PMDD. However, PMDD causes extreme highs and lows. Sufferers of PMDD report damaging and impulsive behaviors that may include suddenly leaving a job or a relationship. Other reports sudden and increased thoughts about suicide and self-harm.

Researchers compared white blood cells in women with PMDD and those without and confirmed that women with PMDD had differences in their genes that process sex hormones. Additionally, a woman with PMS will have fewer, and usually less severe, premenstrual symptoms than a woman with PMDD.

The following report shows the relationship women with no/mild PMS, moderate PMS, or PMDD have with the consumption of psychedelic psychotropic drugs or mood stabilizers. 

As you can see, of the women taking both antidepressants and benzodiazepines, 27.2% of them have PMDD. It also indicates that 40% of women with severe psychological distress had moderate to severe symptoms of PMS or PMDD.

PMDD is a more severe form of PMS.

Though the criteria for PMS and PMDD overlap in some realms. These two conditions present differently in terms of their severity. If you think you might have PMDD, please see a healthcare provider as soon as possible. Proper diagnosis is the first step in ensuring effective treatment.