Premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) is a severe premenstrual disorder that can cause significant emotional and physical symptoms in the days or weeks before menstruation. It may include severe irritability, anxiety, depression, hopelessness and difficulty concentrating.

How is PMDD different from PMS?

PMS can cause symptoms such as bloating, breast tenderness, headaches, fatigue and mood changes. PMDD is more severe and can substantially affect relationships, work and everyday activities.

When do PMDD symptoms occur?

Symptoms typically appear during the luteal phase of the menstrual cycle, after ovulation and before menstruation. They usually improve within a few days of the period beginning.

What treatments are available for PMDD?

Treatment options may include selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) antidepressants, certain hormonal contraceptives and psychological therapies, depending on the individual's circumstances.

Hailey Bieber Opens up About 'Lonely' Health Struggle That Began After Welcoming Son Jack

Q: How is PMDD diagnosed?

PMDD can be diagnosed by assessing symptoms and their relationship with the menstrual cycle. Keeping a daily symptom record over at least two menstrual cycles can help healthcare professionals distinguish it from other conditions.

Hailey Bieber has described the emotional toll of a health condition that made the months following the birth of her first child more difficult than she expected, admitting that speaking about the experience has helped her feel less alone.

The 29-year-old model and Rhode founder revealed that she struggled with premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) after welcoming her son, Jack Blues, with husband Justin Bieber in August 2024.

Speaking to Women's Wear Daily, Bieber said becoming a mother had deepened her interest in women's health, particularly the physical and emotional changes that can accompany pregnancy and childbirth.

'After I had my son, I struggled with that a bit, and there's just not a lot of conversation or research around it,' she said, referring to her experience with PMDD.

She added that sharing personal experiences can make an otherwise isolating health struggle easier to navigate.

'Conversation, for me personally, makes me feel less alone,' Bieber explained. 'When we can identify with each other and have conversations relating to each other and talking about the things we're dealing with and struggling with, I do think it makes it feel like less of a lonely journey.'

Hailey Bieber's Symptoms Felt More Intense After Childbirth

Bieber had previously discussed her diagnosis during an appearance on the SHE MD podcast, revealing that she was diagnosed approximately six months after giving birth.

Although she had experienced premenstrual syndrome (PMS) before pregnancy, she noticed that the emotional changes leading up to her period had become considerably more intense.

'I was like, "This just feels way more intense than before," like the lead-up to getting your period,' she recalled.

Describing the experience, she said: 'Why does it feel like my whole entire life is gonna end? Like, I don't understand.'

Bieber explained that she would experience overwhelming thoughts and feelings before menstruation, with seemingly minor concerns suddenly feeling disproportionately significant. The symptoms would ease once her period began.

She also said the experience gradually improved over time.

Her account highlights an important distinction between ordinary premenstrual symptoms and a condition that can cause severe psychological distress.

What Is PMDD and How Is It Different From PMS?

PMDD is a severe mood disorder linked to the menstrual cycle that can cause significant emotional and physical symptoms, typically during the one to two weeks before menstruation.

While PMS can involve bloating, breast tenderness, headaches, fatigue and mood changes, PMDD can cause more severe psychological symptoms, including marked irritability, anxiety, depression, hopelessness and difficulty concentrating.

Some women also experience sleep disturbances, changes in appetite, and suicidal thoughts.

Symptoms typically emerge during the luteal phase of the menstrual cycle, which occurs after ovulation and before menstruation. They usually improve within a few days of the period beginning.

Unlike occasional premenstrual mood changes, PMDD can substantially interfere with relationships, work, and everyday activities.

The exact cause remains unclear, but research suggests that affected women may have an increased sensitivity to normal hormonal fluctuations during the menstrual cycle. It is not simply a hormonal imbalance.

Why Recognising the Condition Matters

PMDD is diagnosed through an assessment of symptoms and their relationship with the menstrual cycle. Keeping a daily symptom record over at least two menstrual cycles can help healthcare professionals establish the pattern and severity of symptoms.

Treatment options include antidepressants known as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), certain hormonal contraceptives and cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), depending on individual circumstances.

Bieber's comments also reflect wider concerns about gaps in women's health research. She told Women's Wear Daily that her interest in the subject had grown through her own experiences and seeing people close to her struggle with conditions such as endometriosis and polycystic ovary syndrome.

Although motherhood has been deeply rewarding for the model, she has made clear that the transition also brought health challenges she had not anticipated.

By speaking openly about PMDD, Bieber hopes other women experiencing similar symptoms will feel more comfortable discussing them rather than struggling in silence.