Welcome to the PMS Hub

PMS symptoms typically begin in the luteal phase, when oestrogen and progesterone both fluctuate, before dropping sharply right before the period. That hormonal shift directly affects neurotransmitters like serotonin and dopamine, which is why PMS symptoms are both physical and psychological. 

Keep investigating. “Normal” on a standard blood panel doesn’t mean optimal, and it certainly doesn’t mean nothing can be done. Trust how you feel - your body is telling you something. There is so much that nutritional therapy can offer here, from blood sugar regulation, to stress support and gut health, the levers we can pull are significant. There is no reason you should be suffering every month, and finding the right support can be genuinely life changing. 

Stress is a massive piece of the puzzle that often gets overlooked. Our stress response is heightened in the luteal phase, while the stress threshold can be lower, meaning things that wouldn’t normally affect you, suddenly feel overwhelming. Cortisol is our main stress hormone, and it can disrupt blood sugar levels as well as interfere with sleep, both of which have a direct, knock-on effect on hormone balance. It’s a compounding cycle. Managing stress is genuinely clinically supportive of PMS.

For so long, I assumed that this was just the deal, but it isn’t. If you find the right person to support you, the answers you need will be found, and this can drastically improve quality of life. I also wish there was more awareness of the emotional and cognitive symptoms: the anxiety, low mood and overwhelm. The impact that hormonal shifts can have in the brain is real.

Absolutely. I always start with blood sugar levels and the nervous system, because both directly influence hormone balance. That means prioritising eating enough protein, healthy fats and fibre with every meal. Around 90% of us don’t eat enough fibre, and that alone can be a gamechanger for symptoms.