During perimenopause, or before menopause, apart from mood changes such as anxiety, the menopause blues and mood swings, we may also experience changes in our PMS (premenstrual syndrome).

Perimenopause Hormones

Meno Martha, PMS and PerimenopauseDuring perimenopause do our hormones declined in a nice, neat, uniform fashion?

During perimenopause, I thought my hormones would decline in a nice, neat uniform fashion, getting less and less each month, until my periods stopped. I was wrong.

In Sexual Health & Menopause Online: Changes At Midlife – Changes In Hormone Levels: Estrogen the North American Menopause Society elaborate on:

“Estrogen levels generally decline during perimenopause, but they do so in an irregular fashion. Sometimes there can be more estrogen present during perimenopause than in the past”.

Perimenopause PMS

During perimenopause does our PMS declined in a nice neat regular fashion?

Just as estrogen may not decline in a nice, neat, uniform fashion, neither may our PMS. In Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS): Does PMS Change With Age? the Office on Women’s Health,  United States Department of Health and Human Services, Womenshealth.gov explain:

Meno Martha, PMS and Perimenopause

“Yes. PMS symptoms may get worse as you reach your late 30s or 40s and approach menopause and are in the transition to menopause, called perimenopause. This is especially true for women whose moods are sensitive to changing hormone levels during the menstrual cycle. In the years leading up to menopause, your hormone levels also go up and down in an unpredictable way as your body slowly transitions to menopause. You may get the same mood changes, or they may get worse. PMS stops after menopause when you no longer get a period”.

Depending on the Source, the definition of PMS may vary. In PMDD/PMS the (United States Massachusetts General Hospital) MGH Center for Women’s Mental Health’s definition is:

“Premenstrual Syndrome, commonly referred to as PMS, is a broad term that typically refers to a general pattern of physical, emotional and behavioral symptoms occurring 1-2 weeks before and remitting with the onset of menses. PMS is common, affecting from 30-80% of women of reproductive age, though clinically significant PMS symptoms have been reported in 3-8% of patients”.

Diary

Meno Martha, PMS and PerimenopauseMay keeping a monthly diary help?

In PMDD/PMS: Non-Pharmacologic Treatment for PMS and PMDD – Monthly Mood Chart the the MGH Center for Women’s Mental Health elaborate on:

“Keeping a monthly mood chart can be informative and even therapeutic for many women. In addition to confirming the diagnosis, many women feel better if they can identify the relationship between their cycles and mood changes and can thus anticipate times at which they may be at risk for mood worsening”.

In Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS): How Is PMS Diagnosed? the Womenshealth.gov elaborate on:

“Keep track of which PMS symptoms you have and how severe they are for a few months. Write down your symptoms each day on a calendar or with an app on your phone. Take this information with you when you see your doctor”.

In Menstrual Diary the (United Kingdom) National Association for Premenstrual Syndrome explain about this multi-use tool:

“Completed over two cycles, the chart will provide you with a close understanding of your cycle and associated symptoms. It will be also invaluable if you seek guidance from your own doctor. Your menstrual chart is a strong evidence basis from which to begin diagnosis and treatment”.

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  1. Don’t Let PMS Cramp Their Style – Medical Observer
  2. Iapmd.org [International Association for Premenstrual Disorders]
  3. Iapmd.org [International Association for Premenstrual Disorders]: What Is Your Question?
  4. MGH Center for Women’s Mental Health
  5. Menstrual Cycle
  6. Menstrual Diary
  7. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health: Evening Primrose Oil
  8. PMDD/PMS
  9. PMS (Premenstrual Syndrome)
  10. Period Pain & Symptom Diary
  11. Pms.org.uk
  12. Pms.org.uk [National Association for Premenstrual Syndrome, United Kingdom]: Personal Stories
  13. Premenstrual Syndrome
  14. Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS)
  15. Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS)
  16. Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS)
  17. Tracking Your Cycle & Symptoms
  18. Video Series-2019 – What You Need To Know About Mood During the Menopause Transition
  19. Video Series-2020 – How To Talk To Your Primary Care Clinician About Your Overall Health
  20. What Is PME? [Premenstrual Exacerbation]
Meno Martha
Last Updated: 03 August 2020 – Last Revised: 03 August 2020
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