The key to treating PMS, experts say, lies in correctly diagnosing it. While research has estimated that PMS afflicts as many as eight out of 10 women, until recently, the syndrome was difficult to diagnose and treat, largely because physicians lacked the tools to properly diagnose it. Recently, both diagnosis and treatment of PMS have witnessed vast improvements.
Premenstrual symptoms are common and are considered a normal aspect of a woman's monthly cycle.
Their findings were published in a special bulletin in the April issue of the journal Obstetrics and Gynecology. While uncovering the causes of PMS can be challenging, Davis and Johnson say that diagnosis should be based on symptom diaries. By reviewing three months of diary entries, doctors can make a diagnosis, and then determine which treatments might be most effective. Other effective treatments for PMS include supportive therapy, which has been used as a central component in PMS management, and informational counseling, which may relieve many anxieties while increasing the woman's sense of self-control. Relaxation therapy has also been shown to be effective, especially in women with the most severe symptoms.