PMS (premenstrual syndrome).

By definition PMS is a combination of emotional, physical, and psychological disturbances that occur after a woman’s ovulation, typically ending with the onset of her menstrual flow. The most common mood-related symptoms are irritability, depression, crying, oversensitivity, and mood swings.

In most women, the age of onset ranges between 20-30 meaning in the first few years after getting your first Aunt Flo, you are living your best life.

But I mean, who are we kidding, to us women who experience it, we know it as our monthly reminder by dear, sweet, loving mother nature that she is running out of patience and we have give-or-take 5 days to make sure the oven is baking (we fertilize the eggs (ova)) before she releases her wrath on us (i.e. menstruation).

Symptoms differ per individual. We have some females who go full-on Godzilla and we have some who have the occasional breakdown whilst watching a movie especially romantic comedies, because I mean all of us dream of a prince charming or a knight in shining armor. To make it more transparent, let us categorize the symptoms.

So, we have:

• Pain: breast tenderness, headache, back pain, abdominal pain and in some women, they experience pain during or after sexual intercourse (dyspareunia).
• Gastrointestinal changes: nausea, diarrhea, food cravings.
• Weight gain and bloating.
• Neurological: sensitivity to stimuli, migraine
• Psychiatric: mood swings, exhaustion, anxiety, aggressiveness, depression and social withdrawal.

One thing I’m sure we can all agree on regardless of the severity of symptoms is the fact that the bloating we can all do without.

Let’s now dive into how to deal with this. Talking from personal experience, my mother (Caroline) taught me that when I’m in discomfort, regular exercise works, and my oh my, was she right. I will first list down my own tried and tested remedies before adding onto the list some medical recommendations.

Tanakas’ remedies:

• Regular exercise
• Avoid cold foods and beverages
• Keep warm
• Ibuprofen, Diclofenac
• Green tea
• Hot water bottle on my stomach (for the bloating)
• Using this as an excuse to annoy my family and friends

Medical Recommendations:

• Oral contraceptive pill
• Dietary supplements to improve mood swings (vitamin E, vitamin D, Calcium 1 200mg/day)
• NSAIDs (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) e.g., ibuprofen, diclofenac.

NB: Please consult with your general doctor before taking any of these medications.

In conclusion, no one knows what causes PMS, but hormonal changes trigger the symptoms. No single PMS treatment works for everyone. Over-the-counter pain relievers such as ibuprofen may help ease cramps, headaches, backaches, and breast tenderness. Exercising, getting enough sleep, and avoiding salt, caffeine, and alcohol can also help.

That is all for now, see you next time when we talk about Dysmennorhea.