You may think that mood swings, irritability and fatigue are just a part of your monthly cycle, but for a small number of women, this may be a sign of something more serious. Premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) affects an estimated 3.2 per cent of women worldwide, and its effects can be debilitating. To understand more about the symptoms of PMDD and how it differs from premenstrual syndrome (PMS), we caught up with a doctor who gave the lowdown on everything we need to know.

What is PMDD?

"PMDD (premenstrual dysphoric disorder) is a severe form of premenstrual syndrome (PMS). It is characterised by symptoms which occur in the weeks before your period and then improve after you have your period," explains Dr Masarat Jilani, an NHS GP.

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