Risk factors for premenstrual syndrome are:

• a family history of PMS
• domestic violence
• substance abuse
• emotional trauma
• a history of depression or mood disorders,such as postpartum depression.
• a family history of depression
• physical trauma

Associated conditions are:

• major depressive disorder
• generalized anxiety disorder
• schizophrenia
• dysmenorrhea
• seasonal affective disorder

Symptoms of PMS

• acne
• food cravings, especially for sweets
• constipation
• headaches
• sensitivity to light or sound
• fatigue
• changes in sleep patterns
• anxiety
• sadness
• emotional outbursts
• abdominal bloating
• sore breasts
• diarrhea
• irritability
• depression

When to see your doctor

See your doctor if mood swings,physical pain, and other symptoms start to affect your daily life, or if your symptoms don’t go away. The diagnosis is made when you have more than one recurrent symptom in the correct time frame that is severe enough to cause impairment and is absent between menses and ovulation. Your doctor must also cheek out other causes, such as:

• endometriosis
• chronic fatigue syndrome
• connective tissue or rheumatologic diseases
• anemia
• irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)
• thyroid disease

Your doctor should also ask about any history of depression or mood disorders in your family to determine whether your symptoms are the result of PMS or another condition. Some conditions, such as  hypothyroidism, and pregnancy,IBS, have symptoms similar to PMS. Your doctor should do a thyroid hormone test to ensure that your thyroid gland is working properly, a pregnancy test, and possibly a pelvic exam to check for any gynecological problems.

Keeping a good record of your symptoms is another way to determine if you have PMS. The Use of a calendar to keep track of your symptoms and menstruation every month is also recommended. If your symptoms start around the same time each month, PMS is a likely cause.