Standard depression is relatively constant. PMDD is strictly cyclical—symptoms appear during the luteal phase (the 1 to 2 weeks before your period starts) and disappear within a few days of your period arriving. Because the timing is different, PMDD treatment is highly specialized and can sometimes be managed with medications taken only during those specific weeks of your cycle, rather than every single day.

Do I need to get my hormone levels tested before my first appointment?

Generally, no. Hormonal mood disorders like PMDD are rarely caused by "abnormal" hormone levels. Instead, they are caused by the brain's abnormal sensitivity to normal, routine hormone fluctuations. While we may run standard blood panels to rule out underlying issues like thyroid dysfunction, your clinical symptom timeline is our most valuable diagnostic tool.