PMDD

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• 0:00What PMDD is
• 0:14Symptoms
• 0:28How it's diagnosed
• 0:52Treatment options

Full transcript

1. 0:00What PMDD is

   PMDD stands for premenstrual dysphoric disorder. This used to be known as PMS, but we actually gave it a more credible medical title because we wanted to give it credence when women talk about their symptoms.

2. 0:14Symptoms

   We didn't want it to be brushed off as just PMS. So the official diagnostic term is PMDD. This occurs when a woman, the week or two before the beginning of her period, experiences a constellation of symptoms that include significant mood changes, physical changes such as bloating, acne, breast tenderness, cramping.

3. 0:28How it's diagnosed

   And all of these symptoms should contribute to affecting her social interactions and her social life to meet the criteria for PMDD. Lastly, these symptoms should all get better and resolve about a day after your period starts. So in other words, if a woman says to me she has mood changes all month, then that's possibly not PMDD, but rather depression or anxiety.

4. 0:52Treatment options

   In women with PMDD, there are great therapies available, some of which include hormone therapies such as the combination oral contraceptive pill or SSRIs. These medications can be life-changing for some women, and I really urge you to give us a call so that we can help figure out if they would be a good option for you.