Many women experience a variety of unpleasant symptoms in the week or two before menstruating.
These include irritability, anger, headaches, anxiety, depression, fatigue, fluid retention, and breast tenderness. These symptoms undoubtedly result from hormonal changes of the menstrual cycle, but we don't know the cause of PMS or exactly how to treat it. Conventional treatments include antidepressants, antianxiety drugs, beta-blockers, diuretics, oral contraceptives, and other hormonally active formulations. None of these treatments is entirely effective except for those that take the drastic step of inducing artificial menopause. Vitamin B 6 is widely recommended as well, but its scientific record is mixed at best.