Approaching your GP about PMDD

Published on

2 May

2024

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TL;DR

An estimated 3-8% of AFABI (assigned female at birth individuals) have PMDD. PMDD is often described as severe PMS that can cause extreme distress. However, for people who experience PMDD, this can feel like an understatement. Medically speaking, PMSS is a cyclical, hormone-based mood disorder whereby symptoms occur during the luteal phase of the menstrual cycle, and subside within a few days of menstruation.

If you think your PMS feels particularly severe and your symptoms are significantly affecting your daily life, it’s important you talk to your GP about it.

We all know it can be tricky to see a healthcare professional. Whether that’s because of our busy schedules, not being able to get an appointment with the doctor, or previous negative experiences with traditional healthcare, we’ve all got our reasons for putting off booking in to see the GP. But, to make sure you get the most out of your visit when you do go, it can be helpful to think about a few things beforehand.

But how should we prepare for a conversation about PMDD with a GP? And how can a GP help? Here are our top three tips to get the most out of your appointment.

Ask the receptionist whether the doctor you're booking in to see has experience with PMDD

PMDD is still widely misunderstood, even by doctors. On average, it can take up to six healthcare professionals and 12 years to diagnose PMDD. Since many PMDD symptoms are psychological, people can often be misdiagnosed with bipolar disorder, depression, or anxiety and personality disorder. So, remember that you’re within your right to ask if your doctor has come across PMDD before, and if they’re familiar with the condition. If they’re not, ask if anyone else at the practice is. Although it’s not essential you see a GP who has diagnosed PMDD before, if someone is available who has, it can be helpful to know and book in with them.

Think about what questions you want to ask

You might be very clear on what you want to discuss with your GP, but appointments are typically very quick, and we’re only human, so we’re bound to forget to ask certain questions (especially if we’re nervous about the subject). Making a list of the topics you’d like to chat about, or some simple, notes can be helpful. This might cover:

General questions you’d like their advice on, such as how many people they see and treat with PMDD
Why you think you might have PMDD, and where you’ve been reading up on it
Whether any other causes need to be ruled out
Treatment options – traditional as well as alternative – and the pros and cons for you, considering your personal health history
If you need contraception, whether you can combine your contraceptive needs with your PMDD treatment
If you’re breastfeeding, whether the suggested treatments are safe for you and your baby
If you will need a referral to another medical specialist
Whether or not you’ll need an additional/future appointment

Take us much information as you can

To enable a doctor to diagnose PMDD, they must be able to confirm that the symptoms you’re experiencing occur only in the luteal phase of your menstrual cycle, disappear once you get your period, significantly impact your daily life, and include at least one psychological or mood-related symptom.

If you have some time between reading this and your GP appointment, start to make a note of your symptoms, what date they occur, and how severe you feel they are. It’s also important to note down when you get your period (as this will help the doctor identify your luteal phase).

Take these notes with you so the doctor can see if there’s a pattern emerging, and whether that might be PMDD. Although the doctor will need two to three cycles’ worth of this information to diagnose PMDD, it’s really important that, if you think you might have PMDD, you see a GP as soon as possible. Even without a diagnosis, they can prescribe medication or suggest alternative therapies that can help you manage your symptoms whilst you gather the data you need for a diagnosis. This could significantly improve your day-to-day quality of life, and might even be life-saving.

If anyone in your family has PMDD, make a note of this and take it along with you too, as there is thought to be a genetic factor to PMDD (meaning, it can run in the family).

The doctor will also ask for your medical history including any known medical conditions and prescribed or over-the-counter medications or supplements you take, as well as any PMDD treatments you’ve tried (if any) and whether they worked or not.

Making sure you’re fully prepared with all of the information when you see your doctor can make all the difference when it comes to getting the correct diagnosis.