Mood Disorders during Menstruation
As many as 80% of women experience increased emotional sensitivity and
mild-to-moderate mood shifts before their period starts. Called Premenstrual
Syndrome (PMS), these mood changes are generally manageable and do not
cause disruption in a woman’s day-to-day life.
However, up to 10% of women experience Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder
(PMDD), which is characterized by severe mood swings in the two-week period
before menstruation starts. The symptoms of PMDD include: depression,
anxiety and irritability, and may include physical symptoms such as migraine.
PMDD generally subsides within three days of the onset of menstruation.