Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS)

Home » Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS) » Diagnosis

Diagnosis

PMS is difficult to diagnose because there is not a clear cause and the symptoms are varied and are found in other disorders. The cyclical pattern is crucial for a diagnosis: symptoms appear prior to menstruation and resolve when bleeding begins.

The medical history and physical examination involve an evaluation of the symptoms and when they occur in relation to menstruation. Many health care providers advise women to keep a diary of menstrual cycles and the physical and psychological changes they experience over the course of several months. The menstrual diary provides clues to the physician and helps women understand and cope with the changes.

Thyroid function tests and other tests that evaluate the production of hormones are used to rule out other medical disorders.

Tests may be done to rule out dysmenorrhea (menstrual-related pain that occurs just before and during menstruation) and endometriosis.

Because depression is a common feature of PMS, some women undergo psychological counseling as part of the diagnostic procedure. Psychologists, who are professionally trained to recognize depression and other mood disorders, may be able to differentiate the cyclical pattern of depression associated with PMS from the psychiatric disorder.

Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS) Resources

	Join Our PMS Forum Do you have a question, want to share medical advice, or just need to discuss your situation with someone else having a similar experience? The healthchannels forum is a resource for everyone to share and discuss their health and medical needs with others.	Advertising Disclaimer
	Living with...Share your story Do you have a personal health story that you would like to share with others? As a source of free patient education, our goal is to provide our users with trustworthy information and support from others. That's why we've started our "Living with..." sections.
	Our "Living With..." support pages are a place to share experiences about living with a certain condition, disease, disorder, or illness and for loved ones of those dealing with health-related issues. Many people, especially when newly diagnosed, find comfort in knowing that others are having a similar experience. Help others by sharing your story. View stories already submitted. June 1st is National Cancer Survivors Day Share your survival story and help others in the fight against cancer. Read cancer survivor stories already submitted.
	Stay Updated Sign up for our newsletter and receive important updates on the medical conditions that are most important to you.
Advertising Disclaimer To quickly access health information from your website's browser, download Healthcommunities.com's healthchannels toolbar. Advertising Disclaimer