Premenstrual tension affects most women at some stage of their reproductive life. If you don't suffer from mood swings, and the urge to murder your family, then you probably get headaches, bloating and cramps. Many women get the whole lot.

What is premenstrual tension and what can be done about it?

Premenstrual tension

Premenstrual tension (PMT) is thought to be caused by all the hormonal changes which you go through during the menstrual cycle, but the exact cause is not known.

Around 30 to 40 percent of women suffer symptoms so severe that they cannot function normally. This is not "all in your head." PMT is a real medical entity, which usually starts around four or five days before a period, and disappears soon after it starts.

What are the signs of PMT?

There are something like 150 recognised symptoms of PMT, but I am not listing them all here!

The most common are:

moodiness
depression
tummy cramps
bloating
food cravings
headaches
muscle aching
breast tenderness
tiredness
skin problems

What can you do?

There is help available, and seeing your doctor will usually be useful, particularly if he or she is sympathetic to the problem. If not, then find someone who is.

Treatment tends to be different for each person. Some people may find that exercise actually helps, others that their usual exercise regime is totally impossible. Here are some suggestions:

Calcium has been shown to be beneficial in many cases, reducing moodiness, depression, food cravings and pain. Take twice a day to a total of 1500mg.
A good diet with plenty of fresh fruit, vegetables, and fibre will help. Cut down on salt, and avoid alcohol and coffee.
Stress relief in the form of exercise, yoga and relaxation techniques like meditation and biofeedback can definitely help.
Medication such as pain relievers and anti-depressants are necessary for some women with very severe symptoms. See your doctor to discuss these options if you think you may need them.
Other options are things like progesterone and iron supplements, diuretics, and vitamins B6 and E, although these treatments are controversial. Again, see your doctor.

PMT is a very real problem for many women. Never allow people to trivialise it. Speak to your doctor and to other women about it, and experiment with ways of relieving it until you find something which works for you.