Things You Need to Know About Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder (PMDD)

Menstruation is a woman’s monthly cycle, wherein vaginal bleeding occurs due to the shedding of the uterus. It is a normal disposition of a woman’s body which happens due to the absence of pregnancy. As a woman, experiencing monthly blood discharge is already uncomfortable enough. How much more if you have to deal with other issues, right?  Things You Need to Know About Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder (PMDD)

One of the menstrual disorders that around 5 percent of women that experiences PMS is the Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder in which, according to the American Journal of Psychiatry can arise at any time during a woman’s reproductive years. PMDD is severe that it affects a woman’s daily life, and you wouldn’t want to let yourself nor your loved ones to come across with it unprepared, right? So, read on and know more about this disorder.

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What is Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder?

Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder or PMDD for short is a cyclic and hormone-based mood disorder, which is a much severe and disabling form of PMS or premenstrual syndrome wherein the seen symptoms are almost the same. While women from time to time experience PMS sometimes weeks or days before their period, the symptoms of PMS do not cause any clinically significant distress o impact to continue their daily activities unlike PMDD, wherein physical and psychological problems prevent a woman from continuing their daily life.

PMDD’s Psychological Symptoms May Include the Following:

• Depression
• Suicide ideation
• Anxiety
• Irritability
• Tension

The symptoms stated above don’t necessarily occur during  every monthly cycle. However, they are present in the majority of the period, and there might be some months that it becomes worse than other months.

What Causes PMDD?

The exact cause of PMDD is yet unknown. However, researchers think that it may be due to an abnormal reaction to hormonal fluctuations, which is related to your menstrual cycle. Studies have shown a connection between the low level of serotonin (which is a chemical in your brain that helps transmit nerve signals and is also called as the happy chemical) and  the decrease in serotonin leads to PMDD symptoms.

Risk Factors:

Since the cause is still yet to be discovered, let’s discuss about PMDD’s risk factors so that you are able to prevent this disorder, from happening in any part of your life. Thus, risk factors include the following:

1. Environmental:

Stress. You may have heard of this word, but this should not be taken lightly since it can lead to many illnesses. As for PMDD, a history of interpersonal trauma and seasonal changes are all environmental factors that are connected with the presence of this condition.

2. Menstrual Cycle Modifiers:

An example of this is the use of oral contraceptives which are according to DSM-5; women who have used oral contraceptives has fewer premenstrual complaints than those who do not use the pill at all.

3. Genetic:

While the exact reason for PMDD is unknown, researchers have it estimated that premenstrual syndromes generally are 50 percent heritable, making women at risk for PMDD.

Treatment for PMDD:

If you are clinically diagnosed for PMDD, your doctor will provide you the treatment in accordance with your need. Written below are the possible treatments that your doctor will advise you.

1. Medication:

Antidepressants like selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are commonly prescribed with women that suffer PMDD. Examples of this medication are fluoxetine, sertraline, or paroxetine hydrochloride that are prescribed to help alleviate PMDD’s symptoms. In addition to this, there are over-the-counter pain relievers that would help relieve the physical symptoms such as ibuprofen, aspirin, or naproxen.

2. Birth Control Pills:

The birth control pill that contains drospirenone and ethinyl estradiol is used as a treatment for PMDD.

3. Psychotherapy:

Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is an effective treatment for anxiety and mood disorders, that have shown help to people to cope up better with psychologically (depression and anxiety) and physically (pain).

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Takeaway:

Menstruation is complicated and unpredictable enough with other complications during the cycle, that makes the experience frustrating and uncomfortable. Which is why you should help better your menstruation by doing the best that you can through knowing what you can do to help yourself, and what menstrual hygiene utility you can use to make your period much more comfortable.

Don’t know what where to start? Then why not try out menstrual cups for a change? This cup makes your period experience better through making it comfortable since you really won’t feel anything while using it. Moreover, you don’t need to keep on changing unlike your pads so you can do your own things without any disruptions. Know more about menstrual cups through visiting sites like daisymenstrualcup.com so that you’ll learn about the benefit it brings.