Premenstrual Dysphoric Syndrome (PMDD) in Fibromyalgia

What Are the Symptoms of PMDD?

PMDD in fibromyalgia patients can be incredibly severe. As fibromyalgia patients already experience widespread pain and aches, they may be more sensitive to the typical PMDD symptoms. These symptoms include:

• Breast tenderness
• Fatigue
• Bloating
• Headaches
• Mood swings

Muscle and joint aches or pains are also very common symptoms for women who suffer from PMDD. While many of these symptoms are also experienced with PMS, they are often more extreme when you suffer from PMDD. The extreme pain and discomfort that you experience may also lead to additional symptoms. Women who suffer from PMDD are more likely to experience depression and anxiety.

How Is PMDD Linked to Fibromyalgia?

Both PMDD and fibromyalgia can cause severe pain. When the symptoms coincide, patients may experience increased pain that becomes completely debilitating.

Several studies have attempted to make a connection between PMDD and fibromyalgia, including a study published in the Gynecological Endocrinology journal. In this study, researchers evaluated 55 patients who suffer from PMDD and 52 healthy women. Out of the control group, no women showed signs of fibromyalgia. However, 20% of the PMDD patients suffered from the chronic pain syndrome.

The study suggests that women who suffer from PMDD are more likely to suffer from fibromyalgia. The researchers also concluded that the combination of symptoms can be incredibly severe when they occur at the same time. Besides the statistics showing a connection between the conditions, researchers categorize both issues as types of central sensitivity syndromes. These conditions both involve the sensitization of pain, which is called central sensitization.