Approaching your GP about 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.

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

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.