Pre-menstrual Dysphoric Disorder (PMDD) is a severe form of pre-menstrual syndrome (PMS), causing symptoms that interfere with your life, work and relationships. Symptoms of PMDD are similar to symptoms of PMS, but are more stressed and psychological symptoms are more prominent than physical ones.

It is estimated approximately 1 in every 20 people of menstruating age (which includes women, transgender and non-binary) in the UK, suffers with extreme Pre-Menstrual Syndrome (PMS) or Pre-menstrual Dysphoric Disorder (PMDD).

PMDD & Hormones

As PMDD is heavily influenced by your hormones you can find yourself experiencing variety of symptoms, which can differ in severity, and may fluctuate  month to month. PMDD symptoms don’t necessarily just show up during 1 art of your cycle; some people have symptoms throughout their entire cycle ( ovulation to menstruation), other people notice symptoms only appear in the week leading up to menstruation. Ovulation can be a particularly tricky time with symptoms reaching a peak around this time. Some people with PMDD notice that symptoms end once a period starts, but for some this continues until the end of their period. Most people have around two weeks of the month with no symptoms at all.

Your Emotions/ Mood With PMDD

PMDD most frequently present with psychological and behavioural symptoms which are more stressed than physical symptoms in most people. If you have PMDD you could experience the following changes in mood, emotion or mental well-being.

• feelings of hopelessness
• persistent sadness or depression
• extreme anger and anxiety
• decreased interest in usual activities
• sleeping much more or less than usual
• very low self-esteem
• extreme tension and irritability

Your Body With PMDD

If you have PMDD you might notice changes in your body throughout different points in your cycle.

• bloating
• pain and discomfort in your abdomen
• headaches
• backache
• muscle and joint pain
• breast pain
• trouble sleeping
• nausea
• weight gain
• Any long-term (chronic) illnesses, such as asthma or migraines, may get worse.

Your periods with PMDD

Your Fertility with PMDD