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Premenstrual syndrome (PMS) impacts millions of women every single year. Generally, PMS rears its ugly head shortly before a woman receives her monthly period.

Common symptoms include bloating, headaches, fatigue, emotional irritation, and more. Some women also experience other similar health ailments, such as premenstrual dysphoric disorder.

For quite some time, PMS has been largely chalked up to just part of what some women face when they have periods. Of course, women can take certain medications to lessen PMS symptoms. There's also the option of birth control, which can stop a woman from getting periods altogether, even when she's not pregnant.

Unfortunately, though, for women who do suffer from PMS, a new study indicates they may be more at risk of going into early menopause.

Critical warning for women's health

JAMA Network Open recently revealed that women suffering from PMS and other premenstrual ailments are more susceptible to early menopause at a rate of 2.67 times.

Currently, early menopause is classified as taking place before a woman turns 45. This is fairly rare, however, as it only accounts for no more than 10% of women.

Unfortunately, previous studies have linked early menopause to various health problems, such as osteoporosis, general mortality, neurological disorders, and more.

While this information may engender alarm, JAMA Network Open's study is still observational. This means one cannot definitively state PMS or other similar ailments cause early menopause.

Though one can note that a correlation between the two conditions exists.

More to come on these findings

As medical officials look into these findings, the public can likely expect more details and studies regarding the link between PMS and early menopause. So far, women who remain at risk for either of these conditions are advised to speak with their doctors for guidance and personalized care.

At this time, no cure for PMS or related disorders exists. Nevertheless, treatment to lessen the symptoms can go a long way toward helping women who find PMS interfering with their daily lives.

As far as early menopause goes, each woman's doctor should be able to provide her with the best possible medical advice for her situation.