Premenstrual syndrome (PMS) is a combination of disorders and symptoms that precede menstruation.
It does not occur in all women, but affects more than half of them.
The probable cause of most of these symptoms is related to the increase in capillary permeability during the luteal phase (i.e. the second part of the cycle), under the influence of hormones.
This could lead to interstitial tissue edema in different parts of the body: sinuses, brain tissue (which would explain the migraines and neuropsychological manifestations), colonic peritoneal area (generating abdominal and pelvic disorders).
PMS is related to a progesterone deficiency, with the following consequences
- an excess of estrogen over progesterone (a situation of relative hyperestrogenism)
- excess of prolactin (mastodynia),
- an excess of aldosterone in relation to progesterone (aldosterone induces water retention in the kidneys with elimination of potassium)
- an imbalance between type I prostaglandins (pro-inflammatory), reinforced by a dietary imbalance (hence the interest of evening primrose oil).
A distinction must be made between premenstrual syndrome (PMS), which affects 50 to 75% of women, and premenstrual dysphoric disorder, which affects 3 to 8% of women.
The origin of this problem lies essentially in the dysfunction of the serotonin receptors and the GABAergic system, approximately one week before menstruation.
Since progesterone is a natural activator of the GABAergic system, its deficiency promotes mood disorders.