---
title: What is premenstrual syndrome and what causes it? | Niyora
description: PMS is a group of physical and emotional symptoms caused by the body's abnormal response to hormone changes during the menstrual cycle. Symptoms always go awa
url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/those-few-horrible-days-premenstrual-syndrome-2020/
---

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- What is premenstrual syndrome and what causes it?

Study, 2020

# What is premenstrual syndrome and what causes it?

PMS is a group of physical and emotional symptoms caused by the body's abnormal response to hormone changes during the menstrual cycle. Symptoms always go away when the period starts.

 Early or limited evidence

Review article about PMS

## What they did

This is a review article explaining what PMS is, what causes it, how severe it can be, when it occurs, how it is diagnosed, and how it is treated.

## What they found

PMS symptoms include breast tenderness, bloating, mood swings, depression, hopelessness, intense anger, tension, anxiety, irritability, loss of interest in usual activities, difficulty concentrating, fatigue, and appetite changes. Symptoms appear 1 to 2 weeks before the period and completely disappear when the period starts.

## What it means for you

PMS is caused by how the nervous system responds to hormone drops after ovulation, not because anything is wrong with the body. The variety of symptoms means different women experience PMS very differently. This is a review of what is known, not a new study, so it does not test any treatment.

1 to 2 weeks

when symptoms start before period

## About the study

Original title Those few horrible days: Premenstrual syndrome Authors GurmeetSingh Sarla Journal Biomedical Research Journal Year 2020 Study design Study What was tested None Open access Yes Read the paper [doi.org/10.4103/bmrj.bmrj_21_19](https://doi.org/10.4103/bmrj.bmrj_21_19)

## Topics

[Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pms/)[Low mood and depression](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-depression-mood/)[Anxiety and tension](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-anxiety/)[Irritability and anger](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-irritability-anger/)[Bloating, breast tenderness and physical symptoms](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-physical-symptoms/)

Research tells you what helps on average. Niyora helps on the day it hits.

Calm down, see it another way, and decide what to say, with a PMS and PMDD app built by a doctor.

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Does progesterone reduce PMS symptoms in women with polycystic ovary syndrome?

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