Health encyclopaedia - Alphabetical Topic List
| | A | | | B | | | C | | | D | | | E | | | F | | | G | | | H | | | I | | | J | | | K | | | L | | | M | |
| | N | | | O | | | P | | | Q | | | R | | | S | | | T | | | U | | | V | | | W | | | X | | | Y | |
Premenstrual syndrome
Premenstrual syndrome (PMS) is a collection of physical, psychological and emotional symptoms related to your menstrual cycle. Generally, the symptoms come in the days leading up to your period, improve when your period starts and disappear a few days afterwards.
The majority (about 95 percent) of women of child-bearing age have some premenstrual symptoms. Between 5 and 10 percent of these women will have severe enough symptoms for it to be called PMS. Usually, PMS goes away after the menopause.
The exact cause of PMS is not fully understood. However, it is thought to be linked to the changing levels of hormones in your body during your menstrual cycle.









