Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)

The diagnosis of PMS is based on the recurrence of signs. If you observe physical changes (swelling, fatigue, heaviness) or emotional changes (irritability, stress, disturbed sleep) which systematically occur in the second part of the cycle and disappear as soon as your period arrives, it is probably PMS.

The signs appear during luteal phase, that is to say after ovulation. Depending on individual sensitivities, they can appear as early as the 14th day of the cycle or only a few days before the onset of periods. They are linked to the sudden drop in estrogen and progesterone levels.

Answer: The spectrum is wide and varies from one woman to another. We frequently find:

• Physical signs: Breast tension, tight stomach, bloating, hormonal acne or fatigue.
• Psychological signs: Mood swings, sleep disturbances or food cravings (often for sugar).

On average, PMS lasts between 2 and 10 days. It generally reaches its peak intensity 2 to 3 days before the start of menstruation and fades almost immediately as soon as blood flow begins.

In addition to the signs of PMS, certain indicators are very close to the start of the flow: a feeling of heaviness in the lower abdomen, a change in the appearance of the white discharge (which becomes drier or disappears) and sometimes an acceleration of intestinal transit due to the release of prostaglandins.