What causes PMS(premenstrual syndrome)? This is the $64,000,000 question for the majority of women on the planet. Whoever solves the cause of PMS puzzle (and it's sure to be a woman) must be in line for at least Nobel prize. So far though, scientific and medical experts have been unable to identify a single, definitive cause of PMS. Theories range from PMS being caused by the influence of hormones and chemicals on the body, to nutrition, psychological, physiological, and even environmental factors as playing a causal role in PMS.
The most likely cause of PMS is a sensitivity to the shifts in the levels of these hormones that occur in the second half of the menstrual cycle. There is little difference in the total levels of estrogen and progesterone hormones produced by women who suffer from PMS and those who do not, but the body's of women with PMS appear to be more sensitive to the cyclical decline in levels of these hormones in the premenstrual phase. Neurological, gastrointestinal and many other organ systems are affected, with the many-fold and diverse symptoms of PMS resulting as a consequence. Importantly, women whose mothers or sisters have PMS are statistically more likely to suffer from PMS themselves, suggesting a strong genetic (inherited) component to the cause of PMS.
Nutrition may contribute as a cause of PMS symptoms. First, low blood sugar afflicts many PMS sufferers to the extent that some researchers speculate that hypoglycemic episodes are a precursor to PMS in these individuals. Second, imbalances in calcium and magnesium levels may also cause PMS symptoms. These two minerals affect nerve cell communication and blood vessel dilation and constriction, so may impact many of the neurological and physiological symptoms of PMS.
Low levels of certain neurotransmitters may cause many of the neurological symptoms of PMS, particularly depression and anxiety. Low levels of serotonin are linked to depression and carbohydrate cravings while low levels of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) are associated with anxiety. Production of another group of neurotransmitters, the endorphins, is key in regulating pain responses. A lack of production of endorphins may cause the pain-related symptoms of PMS.
