PMDD, or Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder, is a recognized medical condition that causes women to experience a combination of emotional and physical premenstrual symptoms during the 1 to 2 weeks before their period. These symptoms are severe enough to impact daily activities, school, work or personal relationships. For more information, please visit www.UnderstandPMDD.com.

Premenstrual symptoms can begin anytime after a woman begins to menstruate and, on average, menstruation begins at around 12 ½ years of age in the U.S. Women tend to seek treatment for premenstrual symptoms in their late twenties and early to mid-thirties, so it is difficult to know exactly when milder premenstrual symptoms actually become severe enough to be considered PMDD. Even though PMDD is usually first diagnosed after adolescence, it can certainly occur in teenagers.

Genetics may play a role in PMDD. Studies have shown that identical twins are more likely to share the disorder (93%) than non-identical (fraternal) twins (44%), and daughters of mothers with PMDD are more likely to have it themselves. However, no specific genes have been identified to account for PMDD. It is best to simply say that genetics may put a woman at greater risk for developing the disorder.

Yes and no. The name, PMDD, is relatively new but descriptions of the condition extend back to the days of the Greek physician, Hippocrates (460-377 B.C.) who commented on women with suicidal thoughts and other severe premenstrual symptoms. The term premenstrual tension first appeared in 1931 and later evolved into the more familiar name -- premenstrual syndrome or PMS.

While PMDD can cause unpleasant, uncomfortable and even distressing symptoms and be quite disruptive to a woman's life, there is no evidence that women with PMDD are at higher risk for developing physical illnesses such as cancer, high blood pressure, heart disease, kidney disease and the like.

PMDD is a condition linked to the menstrual cycle, so once it begins, PMDD may persist until menstruation stops at menopause (or during pregnancy). Symptoms can vary greatly from cycle to cycle and from woman to woman, and not all cycles may be severe enough to be considered PMDD. Nonetheless, for the diagnosis to be made, the symptom pattern of PMDD must be present during most cycles.

Most certainly. Remember -- for premenstrual symptoms to qualify as PMDD, they must be severe enough to markedly interfere with a woman's life, including relationships with others. Family relationships can be badly disrupted by PMDD. This means relationships with spouse, children, parents, and significant others. This is especially true if PMDD remains undiagnosed and not recognized for what it really is -- a treatable medical/psychiatric disorder for which no one is to blame.

Depression is one of the more common symptoms of PMDD. Women often feel sad, blue, unhappy, down in the dumps, and/or hopeless as part of the PMDD symptom complex. But remember, the depressive symptoms of PMDD are linked to the menstrual cycle and must be absent at least during the week following menses. Also, depression is not necessary for the diagnosis of PMDD.

Women with PMDD may be angry and irritable, but this is seldom associated with actual violent or aggressive acts. There may be very rare exceptions, especially if a woman is temperamentally predisposed to violence or aggression. There was a report of a woman with previously unexplained recurrent violent behavior (including stabbing a woman to death), in whom all of the acts occurred during the premenstrual phase of her cycle.

PMDD is a medical/psychiatric disorder and not just "a way of life" for several reasons. First, the symptoms are very real and quite severe and affect a woman both physically and mentally. Second, while PMDD is a fairly common condition, most women do not suffer from it. Next, the symptoms are clearly linked to the menstrual cycle and do not occur if ovarian function is suppressed (e.g., pregnancy, menopause).

There is some research to suggest that a history of childhood abuse or other types of trauma may be more common in women with PMS or, more specifically, with PMDD. However, it is difficult to know this for sure. It is certainly possible that early trauma could increase a woman's risk of developing PMDD. Women who have experienced a severe trauma may develop a condition known as posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). If this is a concern, please learn more about PTSD by visiting our PTSD site.

It may not be easy to deal with symptoms such as depression, anxiety, irritability and moodiness that recur on a monthly basis. However, the support and understanding of family and friends can help ease the distress of PMDD. Recognizing PMDD for what it is, a treatable medical/psychiatric disorder, is important because this helps lessen feelings of guilt and blame.

You bet. Symptoms of unrelated medical or psychiatric disorders may vary in severity over time or even follow a cyclic pattern but one that is not linked to the menstrual cycle in the same way as PMDD. Sometimes symptoms of an unrelated disorder may worsen during the premenstrual phase of the cycle (premenstrual magnification) and be confused with PMDD. Remember that the symptoms of PMDD are gone completely during the week after menses.

Researchers are still studying the causes of PMDD. So far, they know that while all women's hormones fluctuate throughout their menstrual cycles, women with PMDD seem to be more sensitive to these changes both physically and emotionally. There is evidence that heredity plays a part.

PMDD is measured by how severe your emotional and physical symptoms are and how much they interfere with your relationships and ability to perform your daily activities. Your healthcare professional will most likely want to evaluate your symptoms and how they relate to your menstrual cycle. Use the Your Body Diary to gather this information for your appointment.

Medications are often prescribed. There is a new birth control pill recently approved by the FDA, proven in clinical trials to treat the severe emotional and physical symptoms of PMDD. Other medications include SSRI's (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors). They help lessen the impact of hormone changes on a brain chemical known as serotonin. Unless otherwise stated, the contents of this Web site are the property of Bayer HealthCare Pharmaceuticals Inc

PMDD or Postmenstrual Dysphoric Disorder is a distinct medical condition and is much more serious than premenstrual syndrome (PMS). Premenstrual dysphoric disorder is characterized by severe changes in both mood and physical changes of the body around the time of a woman's period. These changes interfere with daily life.

No. While some laboratory tests may be necessary to exclude other illnesses that could be confused with PMDD, there are simply no laboratory tests that can diagnose PMDD.

I am really confused because I don't know if I have a depression disorder or if I have PMDD. There is so much going on in my life and I just don't know how to analyze anything.

Approximately 3 to 8% of women in their reproductive years suffer from PMDD. Any woman who has periods can have PMDD. It may get worse with age, but it goes away after menopause.

The exact cause of PMDD is not known but scientists believe that it may be caused by an imbalance of the brain's neurotransmitters. Neurotransmitters are the chemical messengers of the brain, which allow cells to communicate with each other. Norepinephrine (NE), serotonin (5-HT) and dopamine (DA) are such neurotransmitters. An imbalance of these chemicals is thought to affect the symptoms of PMDD.

Prescription medications. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are recommended for use in treating PMDD. It is important to know that not everyone responds the same to individual drugs therefore a different drug in the same class may work for you when the first did not. It may take more than one try to find the right medication for you.

Unlike PMS, PMDD always includes severe emotional symptoms, such as mood swings, anxiety, irritability or feelings of sadness or depression. Plus, symptoms of PMDD get so severe they significantly interfere with daily activities, work, school, relationships and/or social interactions.

The 8 common symptoms of PMDD are mood swings, anxiety, irritability, fatigue, headaches, bloating, muscle aches and food cravings. While these are also symptoms of PMS, with PMDD they are severe enough to impact the way you live your life. See the symptoms section of this site for a more detailed list.

These are two hormones produced by a woman's ovaries. Together, the rise and fall of these two hormones help prepare your body for pregnancy or bring about your menstrual cycle. For women with PMDD, these hormonal changes can trigger severe emotional and physical symptoms.

Premenstrual dysphoric disorder can be treated with stress management exercises, SSRI medication or in extreme cases surgery.

There is almost as much controvery and confusion surrounding the cause and treatment of PMS and PMDD as there are symptoms, and no one theory is universally agreed upon. Theories explored and supported through The PMS Project? include a combination of hormone imbalance (progesterone deficiency, estrogen excess), biochemical factors, vitamin and mineral deficiency, prolactin excess, stress, nutrition and lifestyle factors.

A daily symptom diary kept over at least two cycles may not always be necessary to diagnose PMDD. However, it is the best way to confirm the diagnosis based on the type and severity of symptoms and their presence or absence across the various phases of the menstrual cycle. Surprisingly often, women who think they have PMDD learn through the use of a daily symptom diary that such is not the case.