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Is it PMS or something else?

Women's health Digestive health

Is it PMS or something else?

Painful cramps, bouts of irritability or sadness, sleep issues—sometimes it's more than PMS.

Learn Women's health Premenstrual syndrome (pms) and pmddIs it PMS or something else?

First, what exactly is PMS?

Depression

The transition to menopause

Endometriosis

Ovarian cancer

Premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD)

Dysmenorrhea

When to get help for PMS

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Are intense emotions and physical symptoms affecting your day-to-day life when you have your period?

Premenstrual syndrome (PMS) could be the cause, but sometimes it’s an underlying health condition. Here’s what you need to know.

Sources: American College of Obstetricians and Gy... + 12

American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS). November 2025.
National Institute of Mental Health. Depression. 2024.
National Institute of Mental Health. Generalized Anxiety Disorder. 2025.
National Institute on Aging. What Is Menopause? October 16, 2024.
Mayo Clinic. Menopause. July 9, 2020.
WomensHealth.gov. Endometriosis. October 24, 2025.
American Cancer Society. Signs and Symptoms of Ovarian Cancer. August 8, 2025.
American Cancer Society. Annual Cancer Facts & Figures Archives, 2024-2026. Accessed October 7, 2026.
Cleveland Clinic. Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder (PMDD). February 2, 2023.
WomensHealth.gov. Premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD). September 26, 2025.
American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. What I Wish Everyone Knew About Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder. February 2024.
Cleveland Clinic. Dysmenorrhea. May 22, 2023.
American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. Dysmenorrhea: Painful Periods. January 2022.

Written by Rose Hayes, MA, RN.

Medically reviewed by Joanne Perron, MD, MPH.August, 2026

Updated onNovember, 2026

Written by Rose Hayes, MA, RN.

Medically reviewed by Joanne Perron, MD, MPH.August, 2026

Updated onNovember, 2026

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