Dr Whiting on Premenstrual Syndrome

PMS affects many thousands of women of childbearing age. The group of symptoms, which may include bloating, fluid retention, menstrual cramps, mood swings, anxiety and other emotional issues, are often caused by an imbalance of key hormones during specific times of the menstrual cycle. Research done by the late Dr. John Lee, has shown that most women who suffer from PMS are in fact, estrogen dominant. Estrogen dominance comes about in women with PMS, when progesterone levels fall below optimal levels. This occurs most often the last 8 or 10 days prior to menstruation. Since this is the case, Dr. Lee recommended that women use a topical progesterone cream the 10 days prior to anticipated menstruation. Once the period begins, you should stop using the progesterone cream until the following month at the same time again. Symptoms such as mood swings, menstrual cramps, bloating and depression are most often the result of this hormone imbalance. Other factors that can play into PMS are the other glands such as the thyroid, adrenal, and pancreas. If you suffer from moderate to severe PMS, you may wish to check out your thyroid function and your blood sugar and insulin levels. Low blood sugar can produce similar symptoms to the PMS roller coaster. If you are under a fair amount of stress, this can over-work your adrenal glands. This can lead to anxiety and even depression. Since these organs and glands work together, checking for possible thyroid, adrenal and pancreas involvement is often beneficial.