Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS) and Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder (PMDD) in Adolescents

The symptoms of PMS can be wide-ranging and vary from person to person. Most adolescent girls will experience symptoms of PMS at some point, with symptoms usually occurring in the week before menstruation and easing once their period starts.

Common symptoms include:

• bloating and weight gain
• abdominal cramps (period pain)
• mood swings
• feeling depressed, irritable, upset, anxious or teary
• social withdrawal
• tiredness and trouble sleeping
• breast tenderness
• headaches
• skin changes, such as acne or dryness
• oily hair
• changes in appetite or food cravings

You can help your child manage PMS symptoms by encouraging them to:

• do gentle exercise and move every day to boost endorphins (happy hormones)
• eat a healthy, balanced diet and avoid restrictive diets
• take painkillers such as paracetamol or ibuprofen to help alleviate any pain or discomfort
• get 7 to 8 hours of good quality sleep to reduce symptoms of fatigue
• prioritise their wellbeing, seek mental health support and reduce stress levels with activities such as yoga
• use a period tracking app to document their cycle

While most adolescent girls will experience some PMS symptoms, if lifestyle changes have not helped and the symptoms have started to impact your child’s daily life, it’s important to seek advice. As well as tracking their cycle, it’s a good idea for them to keep a symptom diary for two or three menstrual cycles that they can bring with them to appointments.

PMDD affects a smaller group of people and is sometimes described as a much more severe form of PMS. The symptoms experienced in PMDD are very intense and have a significant impact on being able to carry on with regular activities.

The symptoms of PMDD are more severe forms of those listed above for PMS and may be experienced in the two weeks before menstruation starts and last for a few days once menstruation begins.

Additional symptoms include:

• extreme mood swings, including feeling very angry, anxious, depressed, hopeless, out of control, and in some cases, having suicidal thoughts
• joint and muscle pain
• difficulty concentrating
• lack of interest in activities
• increased appetite

If your child is experiencing symptoms of PMDD, it’s important to seek medical advice to help manage the symptoms.

PMS and PMDD may be caused by hormonal issues, which should be promptly addressed to prevent worsening of symptoms.  In some cases, PMS can be linked to the body’s response to changing hormone levels during the menstrual cycle.

Our specialist team will talk to you and your child about their medical history and specific symptoms. The only way to diagnose PMDD is by tracking symptoms daily for at least two menstrual cycles, so it can be useful to keep a symptom diary to share with your doctor. They may also carry out a physical exam and may request other diagnostic tests to rule out any other conditions.

PMS and PMDD symptoms may be treated with: 

• medication 
• hormone therapy
• IUD/IUS (coil) insertion
• certain supplements
• psychological support

At Welbeck, London’s leading paediatric gynaecologists use the latest innovations in healthcare to accurately diagnose and treat a wide range of conditions in our world-class outpatient centre. Your child will receive the best possible care in a welcoming and supportive environment where you both feel listened to. 

With access to colleagues across other specialities, our consultants are also able to refer within the Welbeck ecosystem if needed to ensure your child receives the best possible treatment as quickly as possible, all under one roof.  

Appointments, testing, treatment, and follow-up appointments take place within our state-of-the-art facilities, enabling us to deliver accurate diagnostics and advanced treatments. If preferred, initial and follow-up appointments can sometimes be done remotely via video call.

Your child’s health is of utmost importance to us, so we strive to offer same-day and next-day appointments whenever possible.

Our consultants are recognised by the major health insurance companies. If you have private health insurance for your child, their treatment at Welbeck can begin once your provider has confirmed authorisation. We also provide care to self-paying patients. Learn more about the different payment options at Welbeck.

Get in touch today to book an appointment.

What is the difference between PMS and PMDD? 

PMS is used to describe the physical and emotional symptoms that occur in the week before menstruation and subside once menstruation begins. People experiencing PMDD suffer much more extreme physical and emotional symptoms and may feel very depressed, hopeless or suicidal. 

When should I seek help for PMS/PMDD?

If PMS symptoms are affecting your child's ability to take part in their normal activities and lifestyle changes have not helped, then you should talk to a doctor. If you think your child is experiencing symptoms of PMDD, then you should seek medical advice as soon as possible. 

How common is PMDD?

PMDD is more common than you might think. It’s estimated to affect 5.5% of women and individuals assigned female at birth of reproductive age. It’s as common as diabetes and is estimated to affect 824,000 people in the UK.

We are able to offer appointments to referred paediatric patients aged 12-18. For full information on our paediatrics service, please visit our main Paediatrics page.