PMS/PMDD (Age 18-40)

Click Here For Other Specific Female Hormone Issues  

Which Hormones Do I Test For If I Have PMS/PMDD

TestMyHormones.com offers two tests for women who want to check hormone levels associated with PMS/PMDD.

Basic PMS Saliva Hormone Test (Click Here To Buy) -Measures Testosterone and Cortisol (the stress hormone).  The cost of the kit is $60 and includes and explanation of your results and a recommendation for therapy by our hormone specialist.

Advanced PMS Saliva Hormone Test (Click Here To Buy) -Measures Testosterone, Progesterone, DHEA, and Cortisol.  This is the most comprehensive PMS test that we offer. The cost of the kit is $120 and includes and explanation of your results and a recommendation for therapy by our hormone specialist.

What is PMS?

It is a multiple symptom condition that usually occurs before menstrual period and the relief of symptoms won’t happen till full menstrual flow occurs. According to Dr.Katharina Dalton, PMS is defined as a recurrence of symptoms every month for at least 2 cycles before menstruation and there is an absence of symptoms for at least 7 days after menstruation. The symptoms should not be more than 14 days before menstruation. It should be noted that there are more than 150 symptoms present during PMS and symptoms and duration will vary from individual to individual.  Many Bio-identical hormone specialists have found that PMS is a primary sign of progesterone deficiency, especially during the luteal phase (second-half) of a woman's menstrual cycle. There is also a relationship with abnormal levels of Cortisol (stress hormone), DHEA, and Testosterone.

What are the symptoms of PMS?

 How is PMS diagnosed?

Despite the fact that PMS comprises of different symptoms, some of them are very subjective and none specific, even with a complete gynecological examination or a hormone saliva test, a diagnosis of PMS cannot be positively confirmed. The only clue that can help link symptoms to a diagnosis of PMS is the temporal relationship of symptoms. So in order to fully diagnosed PMS, patients are advised to record their symptoms every night on a menstrual chart for two to three months. Physicians can then interpret the result from the menstrual chart to determine if there is a relationship between symptoms and PMS.

Can hormone changes during the menstrual cycle be related to PMS?

Yes, PMS is related to hormonal changes. Let’s take a look at hormonal fluctuations during a 28-day cycle. Day 1 of the cycle is the first day of the menstruation, at this time the level of progesterone and estrogen are at it’s lowest. The endometrial wall is disintegrated thus marks the beginning of menstrual flow. The level of estrogen is continuing to increase after menstruation and peaks before ovulation, and after that its level starts to fall. On days 15-28, the level of both estrogen and progesterone are rising after which they begin to descend. The levels of both hormones will continue to remain low during menstruation.  Therefore, as one can see, as a result of the hormonal fluctuations during the menstrual cycle, either excess or deficiency before menstruation can lead to PMS.

What other factors are related or contributed to PMS?

Besides hormone deficiencies, nutrition and stress are also associated with PMS. Supplements such as vitamin B-6 or magnesium taurate can relieve some of the symptoms of PMS. Some foods should be avoided such as caffeine, alcohol, salt and sugar. However fruits, green vegetables, grains, rice and herbs are recommended. Exercise can reduce stress and depression and is therefore highly recommend during PMS.

Are there medications that can relieve symptoms of PMS?

Yes, besides the obvious use of bio-identical progesterone, and other hormones which may be deficient, there are medications used to relieve symptoms of PMS. Aspirin, ibuprofen, or other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) can be used to relieve menstrual cramp, headache, backache and breast tenderness. For those who are allergic to aspirin, acetaminophen (Tylenolâ) can be used instead. In addition, diuretics (water pills) can be used to reduce fluid retention. For those who suffer more psychiatric or emotional symptoms, psychiatric medication can be prescribed by their physicians.

E-mail the Webmaster with questions or comments about this web site.        © 2007    - Helpful Links

NOTE: California Residents - Business and Professions Code 1246.5 Requires That Any Test that has not been approved by the Federal Food and Drug Administration for sale to the public without a prescription as an Over-The-Counter Test kit must be ordered by a Licensed physician acting on a patient's behalf.  All orders for test kits within the state of California

NOTE: New York State Residents New York State health law prohibits the testing of certain specimens collected in or mailed from New York, and prohibits the transmission of data from our laboratory to NY physicians or residents. Therefore, direct receipt of lab results for NY residents is not possible.

International Residents & Orders:  Extra shipping charges may be added for international orders.  Patients will be contacted by e-mail or telephone to approve charges.