title: Premenstrual disorders: prevalence, etiology and impact.
abstract: Millions of reproductive-age U.S. women experience premenstrual symptoms with varying degrees of severity. The large number and variety of premenstrual symptoms reported have made premenstrual disorders difficult to characterize. A number of mechanisms have been proposed to explain the etiology of premenstrual symptoms. Some women appear to have a genetic predisposition toward severe premenstrual symptoms or to have vulnerability traits that increase their risk. It has been suggested that 1 or more neurotransmitters and/or neurohormonal systems in certain women may have an abnormal response to normal fluctuations in gonadal hormones across the menstrual cycle. Premenstrual disorders can have a significant negative impact on a woman's quality of life and work productivity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, 9400 Brighten Way, Suite 206, Beverly Hills, CA 90210, USA. winer@usc.edu
authors.forename: Sharon A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Winer
authors.forename: Andrea J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Rapkin
mesh_terms: D005260:Female; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D042341:Gonadal Hormones / Q000097:blood / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008183:Luteal Phase / Q000502:physiology; D008597:Menstrual Cycle / Q000502:physiology*; D018377:Neurotransmitter Agents / Q000502:physiology; D011293:Premenstrual Syndrome / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D011788:Quality of Life
chemical_list: D042341:Gonadal Hormones; D018377:Neurotransmitter Agents