From 1931 on, many scientists who were investigating problems associated with menstruation were struck by the constant appearance of what they labeled premenstrual tension (PMT). That was their umbrella term for depression, extreme fatigue, and irritability. However as research continued it became clear that the "tension" evident during the premenstrual time was only part of what had to be called a syndrome. There were just too many other symptoms that constantly occurred prior to menstruation. Important findings about the distressing symptoms of PMS, and in fact the term Premenstrual Syndrome, came from the efforts of two English physicians, Dr. Katharina Dalton, and Dr. Raymond Greene. In 1953 they published "The Premenstrual Syndrome" which was the first PMS paper in medical literature (British Medical joumal, 1, 1007).
A hormone is a chemical substance carried by the blood from one organ of the body to another which excites the organ to increased functional activity. Progesterone is a hormone, and as will be seen from reading the following pages, has been identified as playing the main role in PMS.
Dr. Dalton came to the use of progesterone through her own personal experience. She had noticed that her own menstrual migraines disappeared during the last six months of pregnancy. She concluded that the high levels of progesterone during pregnancy might have made the difference. She decided to test her theory personally. In the dual role of doctor and patient, she injected herself with progesterone every day. Just as she suspected, her menstrual migraines vanished. Dr. Dalton then tested the use of progesterone on other women with clear and rapid effect. That started what would become her well known advocacy of this now intemational treatment. Since 1953, Dr. Dalton has been the leading investigator of PMS and its foremost authority. She has published three books and more than 40 articles in leading medical joumals about PMS. She has almost single handedly been responsible for increasing interest in PMS by physicians as well as concerned women throughout the world. Other physicians have published books about PMS, though they always quote Dr. Dalton and her research.
Dr. Dalton feels that the term Premenstrual Tension should be avoided because tension reflects only one of many components of this syndrome and its use confuses the diagnosis where tension is absent or overshadowed by some more serious complaints. Also, she emphasizes that stressing psychological symptoms (symptomatology) makes it easy to imply that PMS is only a mere psychological problem.
Other researchers agree with Dr. Dalton. When they considered all the symptoms they decided that they were really facing a multi faceted, recuffent syndrome. Many varied symptoms are repeated during the monthly cycle. With all the facts before them, they settled on the terin "premenstrual syndrome" (PMS) to describe the monthly symptoms that women experienced. Premenstrual Tension, with all its debilitation effects, then became part of a larger premenstrual syndrome.
It has been recently reported in the New York Times that the estimated percentage of women with premenstrual syndrome ranges from 20% to 90%. Most frequently it is reported that 40% of all women between the ages of 14 and 50 experience PMS. Of those wonien who suffer, an estimated 10 to 12 percent are noticing severely debilitating symptoms which disrupt their lives.
The following list of premenstrual symptoms has been researched and reported by R. F. Peat, Ph.D (biology) in his books, "Nutrition for Women" and "Progesterone in Orthomolecular Medicine". Also they have been confirmed by many physicians who have had their women patients so inform them, and by self help organizations that are being fortned by concemed women
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