Severe PMS (PMDD) only every-other month?

This has been happening for a while now. I'm really fed up with it. Going to ask my doctor but I want to know if anyone else has this happen.

I am a 26 year old female, diagnosed with Polycystic Ovaries at age 16. For the past 10 years my periods have been regular (monthly) through the use of metformin, birth control pills, or both. Currently I am only on metformin and have not been on BC for about 2 years.

I have nearly always had severe PMS symptoms, enough to classify as PMDD so I tried the birth control Yaz for that and also added in 10mg of prozac for the 2 weeks before my cycle. Neither really made a noticeable difference over months and years.

What has been happening for a while now is that every other month I will have severe symptoms, most notably extreme cramps and all over body pain and incredibly horrible mood swings. Like the type of mood swings you would expect from someone with bipolar disorder which I do not have. On the alternate months, I have only mild PMS symptoms like being slightly emotional and a little bit of cramping. I have a cycle every month but only every-other month is the severe symptoms.

What I'm wondering is WHY? Does this mean one of my ovaries is releasing way more hormones than the other so I only feel this way on the month it's working? Has anyone else experienced this? Anyone have a suggestion for how to help it?

Thundergrrl,

I've had issues with mood swings related to PMS (PMDD), this has been going on for years.  I recently spoke to my PCP, and she put me on a low dose of lexapro....   wow, what a difference that has made!  My hubby has noticed a huge difference already :) 

I hope you find something that works for you, it makes life so much better :)

Roxzy

I have PCOS and PMDD as well....women usually alternate ovaries each month (not always though as I seem to only ovulate through my right ovary months in a row) so perhaps you are right and one of your ovaries is worse than the other. I know that I had severe pain on my right side almost every single month, rarely on my left side. So, I believe that my right ovary was somehow worse than my left and it seemed to me that I kept ovulating on that side most months. My moods were so bad that I used to say that I felt like biting people's faces off. That's pretty bad! 

I now use Camila to steady my hormones and to keep me from having a period. No more mood swings, no more excruciating pain and no more periods! It really keeps my attitude on an even keel. The difference is amazing as my family can attest! Lol! I have to use a 'mini pill' because anything with estrogen makes my blood pressure go sky high. Mini pills are straight progestin.

I hope this helps....good luck..I know how miserable the symptoms of PCOS can be.

Take Care! :)

I did not have PCOS, but in my youth is did have some seriously difficult periods---every other month. I always knew which ovary was ovulating.

Sorry I have no help to offer, but just know that the every-other-month thing is pretty normal.