[Naughty Nurse]

Effects of Premenstrual Syndrome Go Beyond Physical

Most women already know that the impact of premenstrual syndrome (PMS) extends far beyond personal wellbeing. Mounting evidence is starting to show that PMS can also have heavy health and economic impact in terms of a woman's reduced work productivity and increased health-care visits and costs.

‘Our findings show that, contrary to popular opinion, severe PMS is not trivial and deserves medical treatment,’ said Dr. Kimberly Yonkers, an associate professor of psychiatry at Yale University School of Medicine.

‘Women who suffer from moderate to severe PMS symptoms miss more work and accrue more health-care costs, not to mention the effects that PMS can have on a woman's personal and professional relationships. Other studies have shown that about 20 percent of women suffer from severe PMS symptoms, and effective treatment is key to improving the sufferer's functioning and minimizing these burdens.’

Yonkers’s new study, published in the July 2003 issue of the Journal of Reproductive Medicine, showed an analysis of responses from 436 women aged 18 to 45 who kept a symptom diary for 64 days. The diary tracked the severity of symptoms commonly affected by PMS such as irritability, depression, sleep, appetite, lethargy and bloating, as well as questions of how the symptoms affected absenteeism, occupational productivity and impairment.

Of the women who completed the diaries, 28.7 percent met the criteria for PMS. The participants with PMS showed the 30 percent difference in symptom severity between the follicular (the first phase of the menstrual cycle, when the egg is ripening for ovulation) and luteal (the stage of the menstrual cycle after the release of an ovum and the start of the next period) phases, which is defined by the National Institutes of Health to identify PMS patients.

Study Highlights

When comparing women with and without PMS (as defined above by this study), the researchers found those with PMS experienced greater physical and emotional impairment. For example, PMS sufferers:

were almost nine times more likely to report more than one full week of PMS-related impairment per cycle;

were five times more likely to report reduced productivity at work, with more than 80 percent reporting at least one work week of reduced productivity;

were almost 2.5 times more likely to miss more than two workdays monthly due to health reasons;

were twice as likely to accrue charges of greater than $500 in health-care visits during two years ; and

had increased frequency of ambulatory health care visits.
Moreover, PMS effects extend beyond the duration of a woman's symptoms.
For example, relationships adversely affected by a woman's PMS may not be normalized when the symptomatic period ends, and a missed workday can result in an increased workload immediately following the symptomatic period.

‘These findings should not be interpreted such that all menstruating women are labeled with an illness or functional impairment as a result of their menstrual cycle. Our findings refer to women who showed moderate to severe premenstrual changes,’ said Yonkers.

‘In our assessment, women with PMS showed their mental health status was comparable to that of depression patients, and was more diminished than that of patients with chronic illnesses such as asthma which have pronounced and well-recognized quality-of-life impairments.’

The study was designed by Yonkers and Zynx Health (a medical data analysis company). The diary completed by the study participants included a survey instrument to assess symptoms (depression, anxiety, anger, interest in activities, concentration, lethargy, appetite, sleep, control and physical symptom categories). Impairment was evaluated relative to:

reduced productivity in work, school, home, or daily activities;

interference with hobbies or social activities; and

interference with relationships.

Occupational productivity and absenteeism were measured with three questions: a) the number of hours subjects planned to work that day, b) the number of work-hours missed and c) productivity level at work (rated as functioning at a percentage of total productivity level).

Women with PMS had significantly reduced mental and physical health summary scores compared to women without PMS. For example, women who had one cycle of PMS symptoms had 13 percent lower scores, and for those who had two cycles of symptoms, there was a 24 percent reduction.

‘Effective treatment is essential to minimizing the impact of PMS on a woman's life and the lives of those around her,’ said Yonkers. ‘A number of options can help women treat their PMS symptoms, including taking certain birth control pills, SSRIs (antidepressants), over-the-counter therapies, taking vitamin B6, magnesium or calcium and eating a balanced diet. Women shouldn't be afraid to talk to their health care professional about prescription treatments that may help.’

Of the 436 women surveyed, 74.3 percent reported using vitamins, calcium or an over-the-counter medicine for PMS symptom relief, 11.9 percent reported using an antidepressant, anti-anxiety or other prescription medicine for such relief and 31.4 percent reported using an oral contraceptive.


Sources: Yale University School of Medicine; Zynx Health; Journal of Reproductive Medicine. Posted July 24, 2003

[hardcurves]

good to knew were did you get your info .i would like to read more on this

[Liftingchic]

good info...

[marcusezell]

PMS is actually a social phenomenon caused by social constructs. But there are many naturopathy and nutrition changes which may be able to alleviate PMS. It helps in alleviating PMS related problems like headache and depression and maintains hormonal balance.

[saumyasam]

PMS is really a social phenomenon caused by social constructs. But there are many naturopathy and nutrition changes which may be able to alleviate PMS. It helps in alleviating PMS regarding problems like headache and depression and maintains hormonal balance.

[jasonsawin]

Exercise is helpful for PMS because it reduces stress and tension, mood lift functions, gives a sense of well being and improves circulation, increases the natural production of beta-endorphins.

[Dsmith]

Hello,

PMS is really a social phenomenon caused by social constructs. Women who suffer from moderate to severe PMS symptoms miss more work and accrue more health-care costs, not to mention the effects that PMS can have on a woman's personal and professional relationships. Other studies have shown that about 20 percent of women suffer from severe PMS symptoms, and effective treatment is key to improving the sufferer's functioning and minimizing these burdens.

Thanks,

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