Sufferers may find relief from nasal spray.(Brief Article)

2002 MAR 7 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Forty percent of women who suffer from premenstrual syndrome (PMS) seek medical treatment because their symptoms are so severe and uncomfortable. And of those women, a small percentage suffers from a debilitating hormone-related mood disorder called premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD).

"I couldn't process things very well. I would get very fuzzy and very slow," said Lari Start, who has been diagnosed with PMDD. "Everything was very difficult for me to do. Balancing a check book was monumental, and I'm a math teacher!"

Imagine if those symptoms could disappear with the sniff of a nasal spray. That's exactly what is being tested by researchers at the University of Michigan (U-M) Health System. Nancy Reame, RN, PhD, professor of nursing at U-M School of Nursing and research scientist in the reproductive sciences program at UMHS, said the spray is designed to help the millions of women who experience these symptoms monthly.

"PMS affects 40% of women who are of childbearing age. Every month they are faced with both physical and emotional symptoms," Reame explained. "Bloating and craving chocolate are not the only symptoms; these women are also suffering from irritability, sleeplessness, and in some cases the inability to function normally."

PMS is related to hormonal changes during the menstrual cycle. However, the exact cause of the syndrome is still not known, making it difficult to treat. Health care providers often recommend PMS/PMDD patients try to lessen the symptoms by eating a healthy diet, maintaining a normal weight, and exercising regularly. In more severe cases, prescription treatments are often used, but according to Reame, they're not always reliable.

"The only real proven effective treatment that's available on the market today is an antidepressant," she said. "But since it carries ...