Premenstrual syndrome

Premenstrual syndrome (PMS) affects the quality of life of millions of women. The complexity and variety of clinical presentation together with the cyclic recurrence of affective and somatic symptoms increase the difficulty in understanding and treating the disease. The precise pathophysiology of PMS is still unknown, but it is increasingly believed that, in women with PMS, the sensitive equilibrium between sex-steroids and central neurotransmitters is altered. Several studies have been carried out to understand the origin of the syndrome and to discover new ways of treatment. This review summarizes the most accepted PMS theories and treatments currently available based on the results of the best-designed trials.