Studies Attempt to Better Understand and Control PMS Symptoms

For centuries, medical science dismissed the notion that women's menstrual cycles could cause significant mental and physical distress. Complaints of bloating, moodiness, discomfort, anxiety, and depression related to menstruation were dismissed as little more than psychosomatic flights of fancy, and women who reported such problems to their physicians were often unfairly labeled as hysterical hypochondriacs.

Today, decades of research have proven beyond a reasonable doubt that the complex of physical and emotional symptoms now referred to collectively as premenstrual syndrome (or, more popularly, PMS) do, in fact, exist. For the first time in history, women who suffer as a result of their menstrual cycles are getting the help and information they need to overcome this very real health challenge.

However, in spite of the significant progress that has been made towards understanding PMS in recent years, this condition is so complicated that the hope of happening upon a simple, universally-effective 'cure' is not really feasible. Because each woman's premenstrual symptoms differ so drastically, the challenge of devising experiments whose results will help the female population as a whole has proven to be a daunting task.

Despite these difficulties, researchers all over the world continue to work diligently to unlock the mysteries of PMS. This week, we will take a look at some of the most notable findings that have emerged from this field of study over the last several months.

Traditional Chinese Herbs May Be Effective as Treatment for Menstrual and PMS Symptoms

Long before PMS was recognized as a valid diagnosis in the world of Western medicine, Chinese healers had concocted herbal remedies to help ease the discomfort of premenstrual and menstrual symptoms.

While some might dismiss herbal remedies as nothing more than old wives' tales, a recent study conducted by Australian scientists at the Centre for Complementary Medicine Research at the University of Western Sydney have found that these traditional cures are actually effective against PMS symptoms and menstrual cramps.

In an extensive round of almost forty clinical trials, herb mixtures that were created using the system of traditional Chinese medicine were prescribed to women of childbearing age who had already been diagnosed by their doctors as suffering from menstruation-related discomfort. The herb blends included compounds such as angelica root (danggui), white peony root (baishao), nut-grass rhizome (xiangfu), Chinese motherwort (yimucao), red peony root (chishao), fennel fruit (huixiang), liquorice root (gancao), Szechuan lovage root (chuanxiong), and cinnamon bark (rougui).

Not only were many of the study participants' menstruation-related symptoms eased by these herbs, but a majority of the women in the study reported that they also continued to experience less discomfort for up to three cycles after the conclusion of the study. The researchers concluded that this option may offer a viable alternative treatment for menstruation-related problems, especially for women for whom hormone-based treatment is not beneficial.

Birth Control Pill that Limits Menstruation May Help PMS Symptoms

For decades, hormonal birth control pills have been used as a way to help regulate menstrual cycles for women who experienced difficulties and irregularities. However, the new generation of hormonally-based birth control pills -- many of which limit or wholly suppress the normal monthly menstrual cycle -- may go beyond that by reducing a number of common premenstrual symptoms.

In a study conducted by a laboratory associated with Wyeth Pharmaceuticals, women who took a menstruation-suppressing form of the birth control pill reported fewer PMS symptoms than usual. The most significant areas of improvement were reported in mood, behavior, and discomfort. Menstruation-related symptoms, including menstrual cramps, were reported to be reduced by as much as 85%, as well.

Although hormonal birth control pills are associated with some level of unavoidable risk and are not appropriate for all women, the researchers contended that this form of treatment may help diffuse PMS symptoms for the millions of women who suffer from these problems.

Genetic Component May Impact Women's Tendency to Develop PMS

While a great deal of research attention has been focused on developing treatments for premenstrual symptoms in recent years, other scientists have sought to uncover more information about the root causes of these disorders.

As more progress has been made in the effort to decode and document the human gene sequence, researchers who study women's reproductive health have begun to assess whether genetic factors could play a role in PMS and other menstruation-related problems. One recent study conducted by scientists at the National Institutes of Health and several prominent research universities seems to indicate that PMS and its more severe counterpart, PMDD, are both affected by genetic factors.

Among a group of study participants who had been previously diagnosed with severe PMS and/or PMDD, the research team identified a number of key variations in the estrogen receptor alpha gene. The women whose genes had these unique properties were far more likely to experience severe premenstrual and menstruation-related symptoms, including weight gain, irritability, depression, mood swings, anger, headaches, and others.

While the researchers caution that more investigation is necessary to confirm their findings, they also confirm that identifying the genetic factor involved in PMS and PMDD may present an avenue for the development of more effective treatments in the future.

If your PMS symptoms are uncontrolled, they may negatively impact your health, well-being, and quality of life. Consult with your doctor to develop a PMS treatment plan that is tailored to your unique needs. Please be sure to check back each week for more of the latest news from the world of health research.