PMS - When to Call a Professional

Your name: Your e-mail address: Your friend's e-mail addresses:

(separate multiple addresses with comma)
Indicates required field
Message (limit 100 characters)
Enter answer below:

(Why the math? It protects against spam)
=
Send
Cancel
Your message has been successfully sent!

If your PMS becomes unmanageable, if your symptoms are severe and home treatment is not working, or if your symptoms do not stop or improve when bleeding starts, you should seek medical attention.

While there are no lab tests for diagnosing PMS, your doctor will rely on careful examination of your medical history. As part of this process, he or she will probably ask you to record the start, duration, nature, and severity of your symptoms for at least two menstrual cycles. If you've already started tracking your symptoms, you may be able to help your doctor make a more complete diagnosis.

If home remedies don't help, your doctor may recommend the following treatments:

• Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) may be prescribed to ease cramps and breast tenderness.
• Birth control pills may be prescribed to relieve your symptoms, by stopping ovulation and regulating your hormone level.
• Natural progesterone therapy may help some women. Consult with your primary healthcare practitioner about this.
• A medroxyprogesterone acetate (Depo-Provera®) injection can be used to temporarily stop ovulation and menstruation in really severe cases.
• Antidepressants can be used to help some severe emotional symptoms of PMS.