While most women experience someunpleasant symptomsin the days before their period, PMDD is more serious.
The mood disorder affects 3% to 8% of women in the second half of their menstrual cycle.
In a typical 28-day menstrual cycle, this corresponds to cycle days 14 to 28.
Verywell / Hilary Allison
ALLO interacts with GABA receptors in parts of the brain that control agitation, anxiety, and irritability.
ALLO typically has a calming effect, but women with PMDD appear to have an abnormal reaction to it.
Estrogen
After ovulation, estrogen levels drop.
Estrogen interacts with several brain chemicals that control your mood, in particular, serotonin.
Serotonin is important for regulating many functions, including mood, sleep, and appetite.
Serotonin also influences your cognition, or how you acquire, process, and perceive information from your environment.
Estrogen promotes the positive effects of serotonin.
Women with PMDD may experience an exaggerated drop in serotonin levels.
Low serotonin levels are associated with the depressed mood, food cravings, and impaired cognitive functioning of PMDD.
This is why selective serotonin receptor inhibitors (SSRIs) are the top treatment for PMDD.
This discovery can be extremely validating if you have PMDD.
It gives concrete scientific evidence that something biological and beyond your control is causing your mood changes.
Immune Activation and Inflammation
Mood disorders are linked to the immune system.
Infections and other causes of systemic inflammation can trigger a worsening of symptoms in patients with mental health issues.
The link between PMDD and inflammation, however, is still unclear.
Stress
Researchers are looking at the relationship between ALLO and the stress response in women with PMDD.
ALLO typically increases at times of acute stress and has a calming and sedative effect.
However, experimental studies suggest this response is decreased in cases of chronic stress.
Chronic everyday stress can also trigger symptoms or make them worse.
The correlation between stress and worsening PMDD symptoms is currently an area of active investigation.
Having a family history of mood disorders increases the likelihood of PMDD as well.
There are likely variable causes of PMDD, which may explain why some women respond better to different treatments.
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