Symptoms can vary from cycle to cycle. That's why it's recommended you keep a daily record of both your physical symptoms and how you're feeling for 2-3 periods to help discussions with your doctor.

What causes PMS?

The zinc and copper levels imbalance that occurs is the primary mechanism why PMS causes women to convert mild irritation to out and out rage. Ha. When the zinc and copper is out of synch, it is an automatic thing that happens in the brain, you truly go mad. It's not a weakness on your part it's the copper and zinc. And progesterone helps to restore that, estrogen makes it worse. (Taken From a transcript of a Seminar by Dr John R. Lee, M.D.)

Progesterone instead of the Pill for PMS

Premenstrual Syndrome, also called Premenstrual Dysphoria Disorder, PMDD, is characterized by changes in feelings and disposition as the time of menstruation approaches and during the first day of two of menstrual flow. It is estimated that 20 percent of American women experience PMDD regularly, and as many as 80 percent of women have a few symptoms once in a while.
The official diagnostic criteria for PMDD are:

• markedly depressed mood, feelings of hopelessness, and self-deprecating thoughts
• marked anxiety, tension, feeling edgy or "keyed up"
• emotional instability (suddenly tearful; hypersensitive to rejection)
• greater-than-usual irritability and anger; more interpersonal conflict
• decreased interest in usual activities
• difficulty concentrating
• lethargy, fatigue, lack of energy
• sleeping more or sleeping less than usual
• sense of overwhelm
• breast tenderness, headaches, joint or muscle pain, sensation of bloating
• disruption of social or occupational functioning.

Symptoms of PMDD are notable for their cyclicity: they reach peak intensity during the premenstrual phase of the menstrual cycle and go away after the onset of menstruation.

The causes(s) of PMDD are unknown. Some of the theories to explain PMDD include negative attitudes toward menstruation, changes in hormone levels, sensitivity to hormones, alterations in natural biorhythms, fluctuations in blood sugar levels, vitamin or mineral deficiencies, and fluctuations in brain chemistry, particularly the systems that involve serotonin.

Because they can predict when symptoms of PMDD are likely to appear, susceptible women can take steps to reduce the discomfort and stress during the time they are vulnerable to symptoms. They can...

• eat several small meals a day to minimize blood sugar fluctuations.
• limit intake of sweets, salt, alcohol, caffeine, red meats, and other fatty foods.
• exercise to reduce stress and tension
• ask for understanding and help with tasks in advance to reduce stress and pressure
• increase time for activities that bring enjoyment

Dietary supplements may also help. Obtaining the recommended amounts of calcium (about 1200 mg per day) has been shown reduce symptoms of PMDD. Additional magnesium, vitamins E and B6, and carbohydrate supplements might also be helpful.

Heavy Menstruation

Menorrhagia is defined as excessively heavy or prolonged uterine bleeding, which may be caused by medical problems or hormone imbalances.

In a normal menstrual cycle, there is a balance between estrogen and progesterone, two hormones in the body. These hormones regulate the buildup of the endometrium (uterine lining of blood and tissue), which is shed each month during menstruation. Menorrhagia can occur because of an imbalance between estrogen and progesterone. As a result of the imbalance of too much estrogen, the endometrium keeps building up. When it is eventually shed, there is heavy bleeding. Because hormone imbalances are often present in adolescents and in women approaching menopause, this type of menorrhagia - known as dysfunctional uterine bleeding - is fairly common in these groups.

Women vary in how long it is from the start of one period to the next. In some it is less than a month and others it is longer. Some have an irregular pattern. The actual length of the period varies, too, and may be from three to seven days. In menorrhagia, some women have very prolonged blood loss, with only days before the next episode.

Heavy periods may be accompanied by cramp-like period pain, but some women find even their heavy periods painless.

Persistent heavy periods can lead to thinning of the blood (anemia), which can cause tiredness, shortness of breath, faintness and even angina. Symptoms of this sort would usually prompt people to see the doctor anyway.

Many times there is no particular cause to be found. Sometimes a structural irritation in the womb is to blame, such as a quite common condition where there are localized areas of overgrowth of the muscle wall of the womb (fibroids or fibromyomas), and when there is a coil (or Intra Uterine Device) in the womb.

Heavy periods are more common after sterilization, and happen more in women who are overweight, and also with certain hormonal upsets.

TREATMENT:

Natural Progesterone cream from day 12-26 of you cycle would balance out the excess estrogen and prevent your periods from being so heavy. This will also help any pain or cramping.