What to Expect

What The Doctor Might Ask

Your doctor is likely to ask you a number of questions, such as:

1. How severe are your symptoms?

2. On what days during your menstrual cycle are your symptoms at their worst?

3. Do you have symptom-free days during your menstrual cycle?

4. Can you anticipate when your symptoms are coming on?

5. Does anything seem to make your symptoms better or worse?

6. Do your symptoms interfere with your daily activities?

7. Have you recently felt down, depressed or hopeless?

8. Have you or has anyone in your family been diagnosed with a psychiatric disorder?

9. What treatments have you tried so far? How have they worked?¹

Common Tests You Should Know About

There are no unique physical findings or lab tests to positively diagnose premenstrual syndrome. Your doctor may attribute a particular symptom to premenstrual syndrome (PMS) if it's part of your predictable premenstrual pattern.

To help establish a premenstrual pattern, your doctor may have you record your signs and symptoms on a calendar or in a diary for at least two menstrual cycles. Note the day that you first notice PMS symptoms, as well as the day they disappear. Also be sure to mark the days your period starts and ends².

1. Blood tests: Blood tests are not necessary to diagnose. A blood count may be recommended to screen for other medical conditions that cause fatigue, such as anemia.

• Time taken: A CBC test can be performed in a few minutes, and the results are available within 24 hours to the doctor.

• Cost : CBC cost between Rs. 200 to Rs. 500

1. Thyroid Function Tests: Can detect hypothyroidism (an underactive thyroid gland) or hyperthyroidism (an overactive thyroid gland), both of which have similar signs and symptoms to PMS.

• Time taken: The results are available within 24 hours to the doctor.

• Cost: Thyroid Function tests can cost something between Rs 300 to Rs 1500

1. Liver Function Tests: Levels of liver enzymes fluctuate during the normal menstrual cycle, possibly mediated by progesterone, and the fluctuation varies with age and body mass index. Thus, LFTs can help determine the hormonal condition during PMS³.

• Time taken: The results of LFTs are available usually between one to three days.

• Cost: Liver Function Tests cost somewhere between Rs. 400 to Rs. 1500

1. Blood Lipid/Cholesterol Tests: Lipoprotein cholesterol levels have been observed to change over the menstrual cycle in response to changing reproductive hormone levels. Therefore, these tests are necessary to assess hormonal changes during PMS⁴.

• Time taken: The results of Blood Lipid Tests are available usually between 24-48 hours.

• Cost: Blood Lipid Tests cost somewhere between Rs. 500 to Rs. 1000

References

1. American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS) [Internet]. Washington, DC: ACOG; [cited 2025 Apr 23]. Available from: https://www.acog.org/womens-health/faqs/premenstrual-syndrome​:contentReference[oaicite:1]{index=1}

2. Mayo Clinic. Premenstrual syndrome (PMS) – Diagnosis & treatment [Internet]. Rochester (MN): Mayo Clinic; [cited 2025 Apr 24]. Available from: https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/premenstrual-syndrome/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20376787

1. Lai CW, Jadhav S, Njei B, Ye A, Wactawski-Wende J, Mumford SL, Schisterman EF, Rotman Y. Rhythmic fluctuations in levels of liver enzymes during menstrual cycles of healthy women and effects of body weight. Clin Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2020 Aug;18(9):2055–2063.e2. doi: 10.1016/j.cgh.2019.11.047.

1. Mumford SL, Dasharathy S, Pollack AZ, Schisterman EF. Variations in lipid levels according to menstrual cycle phase: clinical implications. Clin Lipidol. 2011 Apr;6(2):225–234. doi:10.2217/clp.11.9.