WHENEVER a woman exhibits mood swings or temperamental behaviour, more often than not, someone will whisper, “it’s that time of the month – she’s got PMS”.

For Ms Laura Tan, 42, it was not a joke.

Pre-menstrual syndrome (PMS) was something that affected her so badly that she even contemplated suicide several times.

Ms Tan suffers from the most severe form of PMS – premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD).

Worldwide, doctors estimate that PMDD affects between 3 and 8 per cent of women in the reproductive age group.

Ms Tan’s PMDD started when she was in her 20s. It was only recently that her condition came under control with the help of the oral contraceptive pill, commonly known as the Pill.

“For years, I could not control my emotions. It was like there was a monster (inside).

“People did not understand. They said, ‘You can control yourself. Why don’t you control yourself?’” said the former administrative clerk.

Ms Tan said she would become easily agitated over the smallest matters one or two weeks before her period started.

Often, she became so depressed that she could not go about her everyday activities.

She stopped work. Her marriage suffered.

She and her husband have an eight-year-old adopted daughter.

For years, Ms Tan did nothing more than to take evening primrose oil, which was recommended by a doctor. It did not help much.

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