What are premenstrual syndrome and premenstrual dysphoric disorder?
Premenstrual syndrome and premenstrual dysphoric disorder are the medical terms used for the physical and emotional symptoms that some women have before their menstrual period begins. These symptoms vary from woman to woman. They can be mild to severe. The milder form of these symptoms is called premenstrual syndrome, or PMS. Premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) is a severe, disabling form of PMS. As many as 85% of menstruating women have some symptoms of PMS. About 5% to 10% of these women have PMDD.
