PMS: Before, During and After Pregnancy
It is believed by many that PMS is a vitamin-mineral deficiency syndrome. Guy Abraham, M.D. an Obstetrician/Gynecologist and Endocrinologist published a number of articles in the early 1970's suggesting that PMS was caused by a unique combination of factors including a dietary deficiency of certain key nutrients (specifically magnesium and vitamin B6) and an excess of calcium, refined sugar, processed foods and caffeine in the daily diet. It has now been clearly demonstrated that dietary deficiencies of magnesium resulted not only in a decrease of circulating levels of magnesium, but also in a deficiency at the cellular level. Many of the symptoms of PMS are also quite similar to those of vitamin B deficiency syndromes.
PMS and Diet
The interrelationship of a diet high in calcium and low in magnesium sets up a complex series of interactions which worsen a relative magnesium deficiency in the body. Research as early as 1943 by Biskind suggested that magnesium deficiency has its main effect at the level of the liver and creates an inability for the woman's body to naturally breakdown active estrogen into its inactive conjugated water soluble form. Because the liver is not able to breakdown active estrogen, the level circulating estrogen cannot be controlled and estrogen levels of the blood rise. This creates a state of imbalance between estrogen and progesterone and a situation where estrogen levels begin to rise to relatively high levels. We refer to this as hyperestrogenism. And as we will see it is cause of many problematic and even dangerous medical conditions in these women.
The Secondary Effects of PMS in Women
Recent information suggests that there are a number of conditions, PMS being one of them, which are associated with excess circulating estrogen. Conditions such as fibroid tumors, infertility, endometriosis, dysfunctional (irregular) uterine bleeding, menstrual irregularity, breast pain and swelling, fibrocystic disease of the breast, certain types of breast tumors and a number of genital cancers which all have one common finding hyperstimulation by excess circulating estrogen.
While a causative relationship between PMS and the hormonal/vitamin-deficiency syndrome associated with PMS has not been proven, there is a definite sense that whatever cause's PMS also increases the risk of all of these other conditions. In many cases it there may be several causes with the hormonal/vitamin-deficiency syndrome associated with PMS being only one of them.
PMS and Pregnancy
PMS may also have far reaching effects into pregnancy. Certainly infertility, endometriosis, fibroid tumors may affect both getting pregnant, and to some degree, its out come. Recent research now suggests that we might consider some relationship to some cases of spontaneous abortion (miscarriage) and premature labor to the same defects of estrogen/progesterone metabolism as caused by PMS. The relationship of pre-eclampsia and toxemia of pregnancy is very strong as one rarely sees these complications of pregnancy where the PMS was not present prior to pregnancy. One has to suspect that they are caused by the same metabolic defect as causes PMS.
Most of these conditions have never been specifically related to a deficiency of magnesium. However, the striking similarities between the PMS-like symptoms and those of an abnormal interaction between magnesium and calcium, suggest that pretreatment with a magnesium rich diet. That is, a diet with dietary levels of magnesium and vitamin B6 which have already been suggested by the RDA. Unfortunately this type of diet rarely recommended by medical doctors to their patients. Clearly this diet might make a significant difference for many women in the outcome of their pregnancies and the quality of their life whether they have PMS or not.
Eliminating PMS, Protecting Against and Preventing Pregnancy Problems
In our office we recommend this diet to virtually all of the pregnant women we saw between 1975 and 1984. We made sure that they were at least that their diet was at RDA levels or greater in the amount of magnesium and vitamin B6. In all those years, we had only one patient with pre-eclampsia. She was one of the eight women who refused to follow this regime. If you presently suffer from PMS and plan to become pregnant or are already pregnant you should consider looking at your diet and making sure that you have an appropriate amount of magnesium and vitamin B6 in your diet. In our book, 30-Days To No More PMS, A Doctor's Proven Nutritional Program to Conquer PMS we look at all of these factors and discuss the risks and hazards of a diet high in calcium, refined and processed foods, refined sugars, caffeine and deficient in magnesium and vitamin B6. We look at how you can become relatively deficient in these nutrients, even if you eat a "healthy diet." We look at the result and relationship between stress in your life or certain predisposing factors to your risk of developing PMS, worsening it and developing complications from it.
Protecting yourself before becoming pregnant and in early pregnancy requires no more than instructing women in eating a good healthy diet. One that is already recommended by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the Federal Government, the American Medical Association, but which is rarely eaten by the bulk of American women. Nothing in the diet exceeds the amounts recommended for either magnesium or B6 during pregnancy.
Both Dr. Katrina Dalton and Dr. Guy Abraham, the two most prominent leaders in PMS research, as well as a host of other PMS researchers, have clearly stated that there is a definite relationship between PMS and postpartum depression. There is also a definite relationship between PMS and endometriosis. While not yet researched thoroughly, the evidence is quite suggestive. In our practice nearly 99% of the women we saw who presented with endometriosis also suffered from PMS. On the other hand, only 5% to 10% of the women who had PMS also suffered from endometriosis. This suggests that they have a common mechanism but also that PMS itself is much more common then endometriosis. In other articles we have suggested that somewhere between 40% and 60% of all women 14 to 50 presently suffer from PMS you can see that this is an extremely large number of women and that the effect of PMS is wide spread between women and their pregnancies.
Finally, there appears to be both a causative relationship and an association with the degree of severity of symptoms between tubal ligation and the use of oral contraceptives and PMS. Women who have had a tubal ligation, especially when performed immediately after pregnancy, tend to have a higher rate of PMS. One explanation given is that the blood supply to ovaries is in someway impaired predisposing to a hormonal imbalance, in our book we discuss this issue in greater detail. Lastly, many women who use oral contraceptives find that they have exaggerated PMS symptoms most of the month while on OC's. There is also a higher likelihood that these women will develop PMS after stopping OC's.
Eating Yourself Free of PMS
If there is anything good about PMS it is that it is so easy to treat and prevent. Very simple dietary changes can make all the difference in the world. We have treated women with extremely severe PMS, PMS that was destructive to their life, their relationships and to their family and within 30 to 60 days most of these women were completely symptom free.
It eventually prompted us to advertise our services by saying: "Eat yourself free of PMS." With proper treatment of PMS these other conditions will greatly improve and even disappear*. The old adage "solve the real underlying cause and all of the problems and symptoms will go away," really fits for PMS and the other conditions that occur with it.
To read Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS), click here.
To read PMS - An Introduction, click here.
To read PMS Fact Sheet, click here.
To get your PMS Self Evaluation Questionnaire (PEQ), click here.
To read PMS and Your Diet, click here.
To read PMS and the Family, click here.
To read PMS and Emotions, click here.
To read PMS and Fibrocystic Breast Disease, click here.
To read PMS and Birth Control Pills, click here.
To get your book A Guide to Symptoms Relief, click here.
To purchase 30-Days to No More PMS, click here.
To read Personal PMS Diary, click here.
To read PMS Management Form click here.
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