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How Will My Doctor Diagnose PMS?

A woman can actually assist her doctor in making the diagnosis by keeping a symptom diary. If she keeps a record of the symptoms she experiences each month along with the intensity and how the symptom affects her ability to function her doctor will be able to look at her record and her calendar of when her period started each month and see if there is any correlation. The symptoms diary will also give her doctor a good idea of how the symptoms affect her. The diary may also benefit the woman if she sees an emerging pattern and realizes that her symptoms are not "in her head" that they are real and that her doctor will be able to assure her that there is a physical reason for her discomfort. There are three popular forms used for the purpose of tracking symptoms that a woman has that are called: the Calendar of Premenstrual Syndrome Experiences (COPE), the Perspective Record of the Impact and Severity of Menstruation (PRISM) and the Visual Anague Scales (VAS). Her doctor may ask a woman to track her symptoms for a minimum of 2 months so that a good idea can be had of the symptoms and the intensity of them. Once a diagnosis is made her doctor can help with a treatment plan that will bring her some relief from her symptoms.

Her doctor may wish to perform laboratory tests. These tests are not to diagnose PMS but rather to rule out any other medical explanation for her symptoms.

There are other conditions that can have similar symptoms as PMS including cyclic water retention (idiopathic edema), chronic fatigue, depression, hypothyroidism, irritable bowel syndrome, so her doctor will want to rule out these before making the diagnosis of PMS. One thing that indicates PMS to the doctor is the period of symptom free time between the end of a period and the ovulation of the next cycle. Some doctors will prescribe medications that stop all ovarian function to see if the symptoms cease. If the symptoms cease while being on this medication and start up again on a cycle without the medication than the doctor has a clear picture of what the diagnosis may be.

Other than the importance of the symptoms, the diagnosis is made by ruling out all other conditions and disorders that may share the same symptoms as the individual woman is experiencing. A complete personal and family history will be taken as well as a complete physical examination performed to aid the doctor in determining any possible causes for the symptoms. It is never a good idea to self-diagnosis because although symptoms may seem like PMS they could be other things as well that may not respond to the same treatments as PMS.