A 29-year-old woman has revealed how she endured panic attacks, bloating, and low mood for years before finally being diagnosed with premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD). Polly Martinovic, from Devon, is among the estimated 31 million women and girls worldwide living with the chronic condition.
According to the mental health charity Mind, PMDD is a severe form of premenstrual syndrome that causes emotional and physical symptoms in the week or two before a period. The exact causes are not fully understood, but factors such as genetics or trauma may play a role. Polly's symptoms began after a family tragedy: 'I lost my sister about five and a half years ago. That's when it all started,' she said.
Polly experienced breast pain, bloating, fatigue, anxiety, and low mood. She felt dismissed by GPs, who told her she was 'a little bit sensitive to hormonal changes' and prescribed antidepressants. However, she noticed her symptoms were cyclical and linked to her luteal phase. In early 2023, after two years of debilitating symptoms, she paid to see a hormone specialist and received a PMDD diagnosis.
Treatment options for PMDD include antidepressants, contraceptives, or induced menopause, but Polly struggled to find relief. She tried HRT but had a bad reaction, leading to a rapid decline. 'I remember one day I was at home with my mum. I was having a really bad episode, and I was like, I can't do this anymore. I don't want to be here anymore,' she recalled.
Polly moved back home to Devon and relied on her parents for support. 'You're on this cycle, building yourself back up for two weeks and then just being torn down completely. It was exhausting,' she said. During a summer holiday in 2024, she reached rock bottom but found help at a functional medicine clinic. She adopted a holistic approach, including a DUTCH hormone test, and credits this with changing her life.
Polly now wants to raise awareness of PMDD to help others recognise the condition. 'Nobody had mentioned PMDD to me at all; I had no idea what it was,' she said. She encourages those with cyclical symptoms to seek specialist advice.
