Premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD)
Health topics Periods Premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) PMDD is a serious health condition that causes severe emotional and psychological symptoms and distress one or 2 weeks before your periods. Print / PDF What is premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD)? How is PMDD different to PMS? Symptoms of PMDD What causes PMDD? How is PMDD diagnosed? Treatments for PMDD When to see your doctor Reviewed For the most update information on this topic, please visit jeanhailes.org.au Key learnings PMDD is different from PMS. PMDD is a severe condition that causes intense emotional and psychological distress before your periods. Common symptoms include extreme or sudden mood changes, irritability and anxiety. Treatment options include medicines, a healthy lifestyle and cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT). See your doctor if symptoms of PMDD have a big impact on your daily life and wellbeing. Sections on this page What is premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD)? How is PMDD different to PMS? Symptoms of PMDD What causes PMDD? How is PMDD diagnosed? Treatments for PMDD When to see your doctor Print / PDF Key learnings PMDD is different from PMS. PMDD is a severe condition that causes intense emotional and psychological distress before your periods. Common symptoms include extreme or sudden mood changes, irritability and anxiety. Treatment options include medicines, a healthy lifestyle and cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT). See your doctor if symptoms of PMDD have a big impact on your daily life and wellbeing. What is premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD)? PMDD causes severe emotional and psychological distress in the lead-up to your periods. This condition can negatively impact your work, relationships and quality of life. How is PMDD different to PMS? PMDD and PMS can seem similar, but PMDD symptoms are much more intense. Symptoms of PMDD PMDD symptoms start one to 2 weeks before your periods. Symptoms usually settle after your periods start. Common symptoms include: extreme or sudden mood changes, such as suddenly feeling sad or tearful, or increased sensitivity to rejection irritability, anger or conflict with others feeling depressed, hopeless, worthless or guilty anxiety, tension, or feeling ‘on edge’. Other symptoms include: reduced interest in activities such as work, school, friendships or hobbies trouble concentrating tiredness, low energy or easily fatigued marked change in appetite, such as overeating or craving certain foods feeling overwhelmed or out of control changes in sleep patterns physical symptoms, such as breast tenderness, joint and muscle pains, headaches, bloating or weight gain. What causes PMDD? The exact cause of PMDD isn’t known. Ongoing research suggests it may be linked to overlapping factors, including: brain sensitivity to hormone changes during the menstrual cycle genetic factors stress inflammation. How is PMDD diagnosed? PMDD is diagnosed based on your symptoms and how they affect you. You must have at least 5 symptoms, including one mood symptom, that happen the week before your periods. If these symptoms happen for at least 2 menstrual cycles, you’re likely to be diagnosed with PMDD. PMDD is sometimes mistaken for other conditions, such as bipolar disorder. PMDD is officially recognised as a mental health condition. If you think you might have PMDD, you can track your symptoms, how they affect you and what helps. Record this information across at least 2 menstrual cycles. For a printable tracker, visit the International Association for Premenstrual Disorders (IAPMD) website. Treatments for PMDD Treatment for PMDD depends on your symptoms and how much they affect your daily life. You may need a combination of treatments. When to see your doctor See your doctor if you have symptoms of PMDD that impact your quality of life, for example, your school, work, social and family life. Personal stories about peroids Story My journey with PMDD 4 min Story PMS: Fact versus fiction 4 min Review process Our review process This information has been reviewed by clinical experts and is based on the latest evidence. Our content review process ensures our health information is accurate, trustworthy, current and useful. We regularly check our information to make sure it reflects the latest clinical guidelines and key findings from large, reliable studies. Where possible, we focus on Australian research to make our information more relevant locally. Experts play a key role in reviewing our content. Clinicians at Jean Hailes check information for accuracy and real‑world relevance. These include GPs, gynaecologists, endocrinologists, psychologists and allied health professionals. We also work with partner organisations, independent specialists and people with lived experience to make sure our content reflects both expert knowledge and the experiences of the community. 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Premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD)

PMDD is a serious health condition that causes severe emotional and psychological symptoms and distress one or 2 weeks before your periods.

Print / PDF

Reviewed

Key learnings

PMDD is different from PMS. PMDD is a severe condition that causes intense emotional and psychological distress before your periods.
Common symptoms include extreme or sudden mood changes, irritability and anxiety.
Treatment options include medicines, a healthy lifestyle and cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT).
See your doctor if symptoms of PMDD have a big impact on your daily life and wellbeing.

Key learnings

PMDD is different from PMS. PMDD is a severe condition that causes intense emotional and psychological distress before your periods.
Common symptoms include extreme or sudden mood changes, irritability and anxiety.
Treatment options include medicines, a healthy lifestyle and cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT).
See your doctor if symptoms of PMDD have a big impact on your daily life and wellbeing.

What is premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD)?

PMDD causes severe emotional and psychological distress in the lead-up to your periods. This condition can negatively impact your work, relationships and quality of life.

How is PMDD different to PMS?

PMDD and PMS can seem similar, but PMDD symptoms are much more intense.

Symptoms of PMDD

PMDD symptoms start one to 2 weeks before your periods. Symptoms usually settle after your periods start.

Common symptoms include:

extreme or sudden mood changes, such as suddenly feeling sad or tearful, or increased sensitivity to rejection
irritability, anger or conflict with others
feeling depressed, hopeless, worthless or guilty
anxiety, tension, or feeling ‘on edge’.

Other symptoms include:

reduced interest in activities such as work, school, friendships or hobbies
trouble concentrating
tiredness, low energy or easily fatigued
marked change in appetite, such as overeating or craving certain foods
feeling overwhelmed or out of control
changes in sleep patterns
physical symptoms, such as breast tenderness, joint and muscle pains, headaches, bloating or weight gain.

What causes PMDD?

The exact cause of PMDD isn’t known. Ongoing research suggests it may be linked to overlapping factors, including:

brain sensitivity to hormone changes during the menstrual cycle
genetic factors
stress
inflammation.

How is PMDD diagnosed?

PMDD is diagnosed based on your symptoms and how they affect you. You must have at least 5 symptoms, including one mood symptom, that happen the week before your periods. If these symptoms happen for at least 2 menstrual cycles, you’re likely to be diagnosed with PMDD.

PMDD is sometimes mistaken for other conditions, such as bipolar disorder. PMDD is officially recognised as a mental health condition.

If you think you might have PMDD, you can track your symptoms, how they affect you and what helps. Record this information across at least 2 menstrual cycles.

For a printable tracker, visit the International Association for Premenstrual Disorders (IAPMD) website.