A woman suffers greatly every month when she has Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS). The physical symptoms of PMS are: acne, bloating, breast tenderness and fatigue. The emotional symptoms of PMS are: anger alternating with sadness, crying, depression, irritability, mood swings and being overly sensitive. There is no cookie-cutter treatment for PMS. Just like different women experience different symptoms and different intensities of these symptoms, finding relief for PMS can be very different. Treatment is usually a combination of exercise, emotional support, nutritional guidelines and lifestyle changes.

It is important for women diagnosed with PMS to keep a PMS diary of symptoms they experience each month and the activities they do to help relieve them. It is just as important to document the results of the treatment as it is to document the PMS symptoms.

Treatments that women may be asked to try by the medical personnel treating them may include:

* Quitting smoking

* Quitting or reducing intake of alcohol

* Exercise

* Avoiding salt intake prior to the menstrual time

* Reduce caffeine intake

* Reduce the intake of sugar especially refined sugar.

* Take supplements that include vitamins B6, E, calcium and magnesium.

A doctor may also prescribe medications to help bring relief to a woman suffering from PMS. These medications may include:

Analgesics (pain relievers) – to bring relief from headaches, menstrual cramps, and also pelvic discomfort. Analgesics prescribed may be nonsteroidal antiinflammatory medications (NSAIDs such as ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin), naproxen (Aleve, Anaprox) or mefenamic acid (Ponstel).

Antidepressants – for mood disturbances including periods of extreme saddness. Because antidepressants work on increasing brain chemicals (opioids, serotonin) levels that can be affected by the shift in ovarian hormonal levels. Antidepressants that may be prescribed are fluoxetine (Prozac) and paroxetine (Paxil).

Oral contraceptive pills (OCPs) may be prescribed to even out the ovarian hormones as especially the newer birth control pills have shown to improve hormonal fluctuations.

Ovarian suppressors – these medications such as danazol (Danocrine) are used to suppress ovarian hormone production. They cannot be used for long periods of time though due to side effects. A group of drugs called gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) have been used to bring relief to some women with PMS. These also cannot be given long-term because they can have an adverse effect on bone density and also an increased risk for bone thinning (osteoporosis). The GnRH drugs may be prescribed along with other hormone supplements.

Since treatment is symptomatic, the woman being treated for PMS is instrumental in designing the treatment plan.

Exercise has been found to reduce stress and also to reduce anger and depression. Exercise may also have a positive effect on hormones

There have been some studies that show that drinking tea and increasing dietary carbohydrates during the weeks before the menstrual period can reduce PMS symptoms. Carbohydrates are known to increase the level of neurotransmitter serotonin. Nutritionists recommend using vitamin B6, reducing alcohol, caffeine, refined sugar, salt, dairy products and also the amount of animal fats consumed in the weeks prior to menstrual flow.

It has been shown that reducing the amount of stress can have a beneficial result on the symptoms of PMS.

Natural progesterone is also a reliable treatment for PMS because it has been shown to get rid of the estrogen dominance that may be the cause of PMS. Natural progesterone comes in either vaginal or rectal form. Natural progesterone cream is not messy or drippy and the body can absorb it within minutes of application. Natural progesterone can relive PMS symptoms such as: bloating, cramping, depression, fatigue, headaches, irritability, and also weight gain.

A woman suffering from PMS has many treatment alternatives and many combinations to explore so that she can find the right one for her PMS symptom relief.