The premenstrual syndrome revisited

More women - and their families - are affected by the physical and psychological irregularities due to premenstrual symptoms than by any other condition. Up to 90% of women of childbearing age report perceiving one or more symptoms during the days before menstruation, symptoms which can alter their behaviour and wellbeing and which, therefore, can affect their family, social and work circle. However, and notwithstanding this general prevalence, the clinical entity that in a large number of cases results from these symptoms, commonly known as the premenstrual syndrome, still lacks defined and validated contents so that recommendations of treatments backed by adequate experimental and clinical evidence are only slowly appearing. In the present paper, we review recent experimental data as to a possible aetiology of the premenstrual problem. We propose a Premenstrual Profile, i.e. a new register of symptoms, to be used for the differential diagnosis of the three forms of the premenstrual alteration. Finally, we review the evidence-based recommendations from reliable sources as regards the treatment of "normal" and "abnormal" premenstrual symptoms.