How to cure PMS
Premenstrual syndrome is characterized by some very specific and cyclical symptoms (you can find them listed in the article Symptoms of premenstrual syndrome ).
Below we will deal with how to best manage it so that the post-ovulatory phase does not become a monthly nightmare!
Once you have established that you suffer from PMS you can start defending yourself. Some women find it helpful simply to mark symptoms because knowing they are part of the syndrome somehow alleviates them. Why? Simply because knowing that they are part of a symptomatology of the menstrual cycle and not of other serious diseases somehow reassures the woman.
Knowing and controlling your symptoms are the first step in keeping PMS at bay.
There are some do-it-yourself remedies that can help the woman but if the symptoms occur significantly (with panic attacks or depression) we strongly advise you to consult your doctor because drug therapy may be necessary.
Self-help treatments
If you are tracking your menstrual cycle by plotting data and symptoms in a graph , pay attention to when ovulation occurs.
- Nutrition : probably the best way to keep premenstrual syndrome at bay is through proper nutrition by increasing the intake of magnesium and vitamin B6 through supplements. Experts recommend a well-balanced diet that includes whole grains, fruits and vegetables, including legumes. PMS symptoms can be drastically reduced by removing certain foods from your diet that you surely adore such as all those foods high in sugar, fat and salt. Alcohol, nicotine, caffeine (and unfortunately chocolate too) should be avoided.
You should increase your intake of foods containing complex carbohydrates while decreasing your protein intake. Meals should be small and frequent. - Physical exercise and Yoga : physical exercise is an excellent therapy for many problems, including premenstrual syndrome. One reason is that physical activity activates the production of endorphins which is a natural stimulant for the body. This explains why people usually feel better after exercising. It would be important to be able to exercise regularly 3-5 times a week with sessions of about 30 minutes each. Yoga is also an excellent source of help for PMS sufferers.
- Rest : once you have exercised you must also give your body the correct amount of rest to feel good. You should get at least 7-8 hours of sleep every night. Many women have found that going to sleep earlier during the post-ovulatory phase alleviates the symptoms of the syndrome.
- Stress Reduction : Who among us does not suffer from stress at least occasionally? Stress is practically inevitable these days! You can eliminate or reduce it by helping yourself with yoga, massage, meditation, dance or just watching TV or going to the cinema. Everyone can find their own way to relax. Remember that stress can make PMS symptoms worse.
- Dealing with Emotions : One of the most uncomfortable feelings during the post-ovulatory phase is feeling emotionally out of control. Anger, frustration, anxiety can present themselves in an intense way especially if we are used by convention not to show these emotions and to keep them repressed. PMS doesn’t cause the emotions you feel but it amplifies what you already feel. Therefore, if you realize that you have strong, disabling and dangerous emotions even for your relationships, contact a therapist who will help you clarify your emotional state.
- Over-the-counter medications : Many women tend to take over-the-counter medications to relieve some symptoms such as uterine cramps, headaches, etc. Always talk to your pharmacist before taking unsuitable medicines because there are probably non-pharmacological remedies that have a greater effect such as those listed above.
Treating premenstrual syndrome with traditional medicine
There are a plethora of drug treatments for PMS. Accurate recording of symptoms always helps to find the best remedy.
All pharmacological remedies have side effects and their benefit ends when you stop taking them. This is why it is important to evaluate alternative ways that may require sacrifices (see nutrition) but which can have long-term effects.
- Diuretics : Many doctors prescribe diuretics for women whose syndrome causes fluid retention, weight gain, and breast tenderness. However, many experts believe that it is preferable first of all to balance the hormones and improve the diet in order to decrease the intensity of the symptoms in this way.
- Hormonal therapies : since there are different and conflicting theories on the causes of the onset of premenstrual syndrome, there are consequently different types of hormonal therapies that can be applied. Those who think that PMS is caused by low estrogenic levels in the luteal phase prescribe oral contraceptives with the lowest dose of progestins to relieve symptoms in people with severe forms of PMS. Other doctors who think the syndrome is caused by progesterone deficiency prescribe progesterone hormone therapy
- psychoactive drugs: it represents the most current therapy. Fluoxetine is used: the administration of 20 mg of fluexitin in women suffering from premenstrual syndrome in the 15 days preceding menstruation causes a disappearance of both psychological and physical symptoms. The choice of this type of drug derives from the role that serotonin plays in the onset of this syndrome. In fact, fluexitin is a drug belonging to the class of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors
- Drugs with antiprostaglandin activity: uterine cramps are very annoying symptoms and due to an imbalance of prostaglandins which are produced in greater quantities before menstruation.
I want to remind you that PMS can be cured or kept at bay with the right knowledge of the symptoms. It is very important to inform your partner about the causes and symptoms of the syndrome and the emotional changes it causes. In this way he can understand why in some periods you are more irritable, do not feel like making love or feel depressed. In this way the impact of premenstrual syndrome on married life will be less .
The contents of this article are not medical in nature. We recommend that you consult your doctor for diagnosis and treatment of the symptoms you are experiencing.
Kathryn Barlow is an OB/GYN doctor, which is the medical specialty that deals with the care of women's reproductive health, including pregnancy and childbirth.
Obstetricians provide care to women during pregnancy, labor, and delivery, while gynecologists focus on the health of the female reproductive system, including the ovaries, uterus, vagina, and breasts. OB/GYN doctors are trained to provide medical and surgical care for a wide range of conditions related to women's reproductive health.