At this time in their life, teenagers are growing and learning so much about themselves and those around them. They often feel overwhelmed with emotions. Adding to the stress of physical changes, natural hormonal fluctuations can create confusing highs and lows.
Teenagers and PMDD
What is the difference between PMS and PMDD?
Premenstrual syndrome (PMS) and premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) are both related to the menstrual cycle. They involve a range of physical and emotional symptoms that occur before menstruation.
Here are differences between the two conditions:
Severity of Symptoms:
- PMS symptoms are relatively mild to moderate and may include physical discomforts such as bloating, breast tenderness, fatigue, and mood swings.
- PMDD involves more severe and debilitating symptoms. They significantly interfere with daily activities and are characterized by intense emotional symptoms such as severe depression, anxiety, irritability, and mood swings.
Impact on Daily Life:
• While symptoms of PMS are bothersome, they typically do not disrupt daily activities to the same extent as PMDD.
• PMDD symptoms are so severe that they significantly impair a teenagers ability to function at work, school, or in personal relationships. This causes marked distress and impairment in social, occupational, or other important areas of life.
How is PMDD diagnosed in teenagers?
Some teenage girls tend to be moody. At times their mood swings can be dramatic. However, when they occur regularly in the week or two prior to their period or during their period, then they may be manifesting PMDD. These premenstrual flare-ups are completely correctable.
A young girl’s adolescent and teenage years of are marked by tremendous physical and emotional changes as they mature to adulthood. One of the primary changes is the onset of ovulation and progesterone production.
Frequently, for the first several years of ovulation, the strength of the ovulation is poor. This results in low progesterone production. For sensitive girls, lower levels of progesterone result in dramatic, frequently illogical, and uncontrollable outbursts.
After the event the young lady will often realize how inappropriate her response was under the hormonal influence of progesterone. However, they are unable to control their behavior.
Hormones, teenagers and PMDD
Evaluating adequate levels of the teenager’s progesterone is essential in treating PMDD. When these hormones levels are achieved, then PMDD does not occur. However, if progesterone production is inadequate, then, in susceptible individuals, dramatic mood swings are triggered.
The frustration brought on by teenagers and PMDD
When a daughter is struggling with PMDD, they and their families find themselves searching for solutions. Their home-life and their daughters lives in both school and socially are disrupted.
Desperate to help their daughters, parents frequently resort to psychiatrists, psychologists, and family counselors without success. Birth control pills, vitamins and exercise frequently have minimal or no sustained improvement. These outbursts can go on for years.
How is PMDD in teenagers treated?
PMDD can be effectively eliminated with appropriate evaluation and treatment. An evaluation by a Reproductive Endocrinologist who is able to treat the root cause of the PMDD can lead to a resolution of the symptoms.
For optimal results and to free your teenager of these cyclic, emotional extremes associated with ovulation and menses, as a reproductive endocrinologist who focuses care in this area, we can bring relief. In this setting, the PMDD can be controlled and the monthly outbursts ended.
If this describes your daughter, reach out to Dr. Burke.
Appointments
If your daughter is experiencing symptoms of PMDD, do not hesitate and call now to schedule an appointment with Dr. Burke.
Call us at 856-429-2212
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