PMS can start up to two weeks before your period and usually goes away when your period starts. It most commonly affects teenagers and women in their early 20s. Some women have symptoms of PMS each month before their period starts.

Nearly all women get some mild symptoms before their period. However, around one in 20 women have symptoms that interfere with their quality of life.

Symptoms

More than 100 symptoms have been associated with PMS. Common symptoms can be grouped into emotional, behavioural and physical categories.

Emotional and behavioural symptoms can include:

• anxiety
• mood swings
• tiredness
• poor concentration
• irritability
• aggression
• depression
• clumsiness

Physical symptoms can include:

• headaches
• feeling bloated
• weight gain
• breast tenderness
• back or lower abdominal pain