What guidelines say about treatment
International guidelines discuss treatment of premenstrual symptoms. Which option fits, and at what dose, belongs with a clinician. This page names the groups those guidelines discuss, without a prescription.
Which guideline applies where
In the Netherlands, the NVOG wrote a guideline on premenstrual syndrome in 2011. It was based on the 2007 RCOG guideline. The current international documents are newer: ACOG Clinical Practice Guideline No. 7 (December 2023) and RCOG Green-top Guideline No. 48 (2016, published in 2017). RCOG reviewed the text in May 2023 and an update is in development. NICE Clinical Knowledge Summaries draws on those sources, together with the ISPMD standards from 2016.
Which groups those guidelines name
Those guidelines discuss treatment, including SSRIs, some hormonal contraceptives and cognitive behavioural therapy. Which option fits, and at what dose, is a decision with a clinician. A plain-language overview is on treatment. This page gives no dose and no advice on which option to choose.
What is not on this page
A blood test does not show PMDD. The pattern over two cycles is the starting point for the conversation. More on that is on hormone sensitivity and on two cycles. The app does not diagnose and does not prescribe treatment.
Sources
- American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. Management of premenstrual disorders. Clinical Practice Guideline No. 7. Obstetrics & Gynecology. 2023;142(6):1516–1533. www.acog.org/clinical/clinical-guidance/clinical-practice-guideline/articles/2023/12/management-of-premenstrual-disorders
- Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists. Management of Premenstrual Syndrome. Green-top Guideline No. 48. BJOG. 2017;124(3):e73–e105. www.rcog.org.uk/guidance/browse-all-guidance/green-top-guidelines/premenstrual-syndrome-management-green-top-guideline-no-48/
- National Institute for Health and Care Excellence. Clinical Knowledge Summaries: Premenstrual syndrome, supporting evidence. Based on RCOG, ISPMD, ACOG 2023 and BMJ Best Practice 2024. cks.nice.org.uk/topics/premenstrual-syndrome/supporting-evidence/
- Ismaili E, et al. Fourth consensus of the International Society for Premenstrual Disorders (ISPMD): auditable standards for diagnosis and management of premenstrual disorder. Archives of Women’s Mental Health. 2016. doi.org/10.1007/s00737-016-0631-7
- Nederlandse Vereniging voor Obstetrie en Gynaecologie. Richtlijn Premenstrueel syndroom. Utrecht: NVOG; 2011. www.nvog.nl/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/Richtlijn-Premenstrueel-Syndroom.pdf
This page summarises published research and guidelines. It is not medical advice and not a clinical guideline. The app does not diagnose.
PMDD Tracker is not a medical device and does not replace professional advice. The cyclic overview is a tool for pattern recognition, not a medical judgement. Always see a healthcare provider for professional advice. Medical disclaimer.
Frequently asked questions
- Does this page say which dose I need?
- No. Dose and choice are discussed with a clinician. This page only names the groups the guidelines discuss.
- Are SSRIs the only option in those guidelines?
- No. ACOG (2023) and RCOG Green-top 48 name SSRIs, some hormonal contraceptives and cognitive behavioural therapy, among other options. What fits depends on the situation.
- Does this page replace a clinician?
- No. It is a summary of published guidelines, not medical advice. The app does not diagnose.
Bring the pattern, not a prescription from this site
Two cycles of records give a clinician something to respond to. The app does not diagnose.
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