Premenstrual tension usually refers to emotional changes, while PMS includes both the physical and mental symptoms that occur. An 'evergreen' issue for the information line with at least five calls per month, this article will pull together some of the information available in the Center's library and detail some of the treatments women have found useful. For consistency, PMS will be used throughout this article. This article was written by Marisa Sartore in February 1996.
Most women experience physical and emotional changes during a normal menstrual cycle.
These are related to cyclical hormonal changes and vary from woman to woman and from menstrual cycle to menstrual cycle. For most women the symptoms experienced, such as bloating, headaches, and irritability, are relatively mild and signal that the menstrual flow will start in hours or days. Some of the feelings experienced premenstrually, such as being extra sensitive and wanting to be alone are probably a normal part of our cycle and not symptoms of a problem. Women respond differently to the changes brought on by their cycle. Some women suffer intensely, some aren't aware of anything other than menstruating and experience no distressing symptoms.