PMS & PMDD
PMS that takes over the back half of your month isn't something you simply have to endure. The symptoms are real, they're hormonal, and they're treatable.
What’s actually behind PMS and PMDD
PMS is the cluster of physical and emotional symptoms that appear in the luteal phase — after ovulation and before your period. PMDD is the more severe form, where mood symptoms like irritability, anxiety, and low mood become debilitating.
Neither is caused simply by ‘too much’ of a single hormone. They reflect how your body responds to the natural hormonal shifts of the cycle — with progesterone balance, serotonin sensitivity, blood sugar, and inflammation all playing a part. That's why a one-size fix rarely works, and why understanding your particular pattern does.
Symptoms Dr. Gaucher addresses
- Mood swings, irritability, and anxiety
- Low mood or tearfulness (and, in PMDD, debilitating mood symptoms)
- Breast tenderness
- Bloating and water retention
- Cramps and headaches
- Fatigue and disrupted sleep
- Food cravings
What Dr. Gaucher investigates
- Estrogen and progesterone balance across the cycle
- Thyroid function, which influences mood, energy, and cycle
- Blood sugar and insulin, which amplify mood and energy swings
- Inflammation and nutrient status — nutrient deficiencies can contribute to mood and cycle regulation
Treatment approach
Treatment is built to smooth the luteal phase rather than override the cycle: cycle-phase nutrition and targeted supplementation, botanicals for hormone support and mood, blood-sugar stabilization, and stress regulation — because cortisol amplifies premenstrual symptoms. The plan is adjusted over a few cycles as your response becomes clear.
Connected conditions
PMS and PMDD frequently connect to:
Common questions
Can a naturopath help with PMS or PMDD in Victoria, BC?
Yes. Dr. Gaucher investigates the hormonal, thyroid, and metabolic drivers behind PMS and PMDD, then uses cycle-phase nutrition, targeted botanicals, and supplementation to address the root rather than mask symptoms.
What is the difference between PMS and PMDD?
PMDD is a more severe form of PMS in which mood symptoms - irritability, anxiety, and low mood - become debilitating. Both occur in the luteal phase and both are treatable.
Can PMS be treated without the pill?
Yes. There are many options that target the root cause of PMS instead of using the birth control pill to mitigate symptoms. Cycle-phase nutrition, botanicals for hormone and mood support, and blood-sugar stabilization can meaningfully reduce PMS and PMDD symptoms.