What iI PMDD, and How Is It Different from PMS?
Premenstrual syndrome, or PMS, is the name for a set of symptoms experienced by women of childbearing age between ovulation and the onset of menstruation. These symptoms typically include headaches, mood swings, cramps, breast tenderness and bloating. Premenustral dysphoric disorder, or PMDD, is a more severe form of PMS that occurs in about 2 percent to 10 percent of all women. It differs from PMS in that it is intense enough to interfere with a woman's job, social activities or relationships. It includes the physical symptoms of PMS as well as feelings of depression or hopelessness, irritability, anger, increased conflicts with others, tension, anxiety, difficulty with concentration, changes in appetite, fatigue, problems with sleep, feelings of being overwhelmed or out of control, and a decrease in interest in normal activities.
What Causes PMDD and How Does Yaz help?
The exact cause of PMDD is not known. It is believed to be caused by hormone fluctuations during the menstrual cycle. However, according to Pam Asbury-Hux, APRN, BC, of the University of Tennessee's Student Health Clinic, the irritability is believed to be caused by fluid retention. The progestin in Yaz, drospirenone, also acts as a diuretic, reducing fluid retention and, at the same time, irritability.
Other Potential Causes and Treatments of PMDD
PMDD is more likely to occur in women with a personal or family history of postpartum depression (depression experienced after having a child) or depression in general. It has also been linked to low levels of serotonin, a brain chemical that is instrumental in transmitting nerve signals. Therefore, certain antidepressants can help in the treatment of PMDD. The ones approved by the FDA for this purpose are Paxil CR, Zoloft and Sarafem.
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