What Is PMDD?
PMDD -- premenstrual dysphoric disorder -- is a severe mood disorder tied to the menstrual cycle. It is not PMS. It affects about 5-8% of women of reproductive age and causes debilitating depression, anxiety, irritability, and emotional instability in the one to two weeks before your period. Once your period starts, the symptoms lift. Then the cycle repeats.
Military spouses, service members, and professionals in high-demand roles often push through PMDD without knowing there is a name for it -- or that it is treatable. It is both.
How We Treat PMDD
SSRIs are the first-line treatment. Zoloft (sertraline), Prozac (fluoxetine), and Lexapro (escitalopram) are all proven effective for PMDD -- often within the first menstrual cycle. We use either continuous dosing (every day) or luteal-phase dosing (only during the symptomatic part of your cycle) depending on what works best for you.
If SSRIs alone are not enough, we adjust the approach. Some patients benefit from combining psychiatric medication with hormonal strategies coordinated with their OB-GYN.
What to Expect at Your First Visit
We start with a full psychiatric evaluation -- about 60 minutes. We ask about your symptom patterns, cycle timing, medical history, and what you have already tried. Tracking your symptoms for a cycle or two before coming in helps, but it is not required.
Insurance and Payment
PMDD evaluation and treatment are covered by most insurance including TRICARE. We accept Anthem Blue Cross, Aetna, Cigna, UnitedHealthcare, and Health First Colorado (Medicaid). Cash pay is also available.
When to Get Help
If the week before your period wrecks your mood, your relationships, or your ability to function at work or home -- that is PMDD. You do not have to white-knuckle through it every month. The right medication can stop the cycle from controlling your life.