What is PMS? What Causes It?

Premenstrual syndrome happens before the menstrual phase (hence the name). If you’re not familiar with the phases of the menstrual cycle, don’t worry, we’ll cover it in greater detail below.

PMS symptoms usually begin to develop after ovulation, within a week or so before menstruation.

Scientists aren’t able to say exactly why the change in hormones causes both the psychological and physical symptoms, but the theory is that it has something to do with the link between estrogen and serotonin production in the brain [12].

The entire menstrual cycle is a rollercoaster of hormones, each one taking their turn to rise up before crashing back down again. All of this is a well-choreographed dance designed to prepare the body for falling pregnant.

How Hormone Changes May Lead to PMS

1. Progesterone and estrogen rise and then drop quickly after ovulation
2. During this rise is when you start to feel physical symptoms such as breast tenderness. You can think of this as the body getting ready for pregnancy
3. Because estrogen is tied to serotonin, the drop in estrogen causes a drop in serotonin as well
4. Drops in serotonin (the neurotransmitter that makes you feel happy) can then cause the psychological symptoms

The 3 Stages of the Menstrual Cycle

The menstrual cycle can be broken down into 3 phases: follicular, luteal, and menses.

1. Follicular Phase

Eggs develop in little nests in the ovaries called follicles. During the follicular phase, the follicle that will eventually release a mature egg produces the hormone estrogen. This follicle is stimulated by a pituitary hormone called the Follicle Stimulating Hormone (FSH) [13].

FSH also stimulates the production of yet another pituitary gland hormone called Luteinizing Hormone (LH), which causes the egg to go through meiosis (cell division).

As estrogen levels rise with the growing follicle, the uterus lining thickens with tissue and blood vessels to get ready for implantation of a fertilized egg and pregnancy. Once the egg is mature, there is a spike in LH and the egg is released from the follicle — this marks the point of ovulation. The body is now ready to conceive a baby.

Estrogen, LH, and FSH levels begin to drop while progesterone starts to rise as it’s released from the same follicle that released the egg previously.

2. Luteal Phase

After ovulation is achieved during the follicular phase, we enter the luteal phase [14].

Here, estrogen rises again with progesterone and the uterus lining continues to grow. From the ovary, the egg will travel to the uterus via the fallopian tubes.

If fertilization were to occur, it would happen during this period of 3-4 days.

If no fertilization occurs, there’s no need to continue to support the highly vascularized and dense tissue of the uterus (using up a lot of the body’s resources). The corpus luteum dies and both estrogen and progesterone levels drop once again.

3. Menses or Menstruation

Menstruation is the process through which the cells lining the uterus go through programmed cell death (apoptosis) and shed [15].

Blood and tissue are expelled from the vagina and women may suffer from cramping which is the contraction of the uterine muscles to help shed the lining.

Signs & Symptoms of PMS

Because there are four different hormones at play here, PMS can present itself in various ways. Not all women get all the symptoms and not every symptom occurs every month. Jet lag, sleep, alcohol and smoking, and stress can all affect PMS.

Psychological Symptoms of PMS

The emotional changes that happen post-ovulation, during the luteal phase, may include the following:

• Depression
• Tension
• Anxiety
• Irritability
• Fatigue
• Emotional sensitivity

Physical Symptoms of PMS

Along with the changes in mood, physical symptoms will also occur.

These physical symptoms include:

• Breast tenderness
• Abdominal bloating
• Muscle and joint pain
• Headaches
• Inflammation [16]
• Cramping

Current Treatment Options for PMS

There are many ways to treat mild to severe PMS, including drugs, hormone therapy, acupuncture, hot packs, supplements, and much more.

The scientific evidence behind things like acupuncture is limited and most of the advice appears to be anecdotal [17]. Even exercise, a commonly suggested way to relieve PMS symptoms, showed inconsistent results when tested. Some groups responded while others showed no significant reduction in discomfort [18].

Hormonal options involve taking estradiol and/or progesterone pills in order to better regulate the fluctuations of these hormones in the luteal phase. Some studies have shown that this method is effective, while others showed no difference in alleviating the symptoms of PMS [19, 20].

What Else Can I Do To Relieve PMS Symptoms?

Aside from taking CBD, making sure to keep your serotonin levels at a normal level can help relieve PMS symptoms. Things like exercise, sleeping well, keeping stress levels low, and eating dark chocolate are all ways to make sure your serotonin level doesn’t dip too low.

Key Takeaways: Can CBD Help With PMS?

While the research on the use of cannabidiol on PMS symptoms still requires further exploration, the hope is that this article gave you a bit more insight into the causes of PMS and how CBD can be used to reduce PMS symptoms.

We know that CBD doesn’t directly treat PMS in its entirety. However, certain symptoms such as cramps, anxiety, and pain can somewhat be lessened by taking CBD.

Unlike other conditions, PMS symptoms and the severity of them vary month to month depending on the level of stress and other uncontrollable life issues that may arise unexpectedly. So, while it’s impossible to fully eliminate PMS due to its close ties with fluctuating reproductive hormones, it is possible to target particular symptoms on a case by case basis.

References Cited In This Article

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