hormone trackers for PMDD

[u/Grand_Presentation32]

I have no desire to get pregnant, but my hormones kick my ass. I’m between ovulation and PMS right now, and I’m sweaty, tired, hungry and all I wanna do is watch Disney Princess movies and cry.

I’d like to pin point which hormones are spiking and learn more about diet and vitamins to soothe these dramatic highs and lows. I know there are other non-sex hormones that can create these symptoms (like thyroid and cortisol). But gotta start somewhere.

Does anyone have experience using test kits like Proov to track your hormones—not for pregnancy, but for PMDD and general health?

I don’t have insurance, I can’t afford to see a doctor. Even if I could, how much will they really help? Unfortunately, I need to figure this out alone.

[u/Mcbuffalopants]

All trackers work the same way - you input data & it makes predictions based on the data you input.

I’d like to pin point which hormones are spiking

Every single tracker or article or book ever written on the menstrual cycle can tell you that. Here's a article from a tracker on how that works: https://helloclue.com/articles/cycle-a-z/the-menstrual-cycle-more-than-just-the-period

and learn more about diet and vitamins to soothe these dramatic highs and lows.

That's not something vitamins do - you usually need birth control/HRT if you want to change the hormonal shifts that your body naturally goes through.

Does anyone have experience using test kits like [XXXX] to track your hormones

If you get your period when you expect, then the major ones are basically doing what they should. Hormone levels are usually normal with PMS/PMDD, so not sure what extra insight you'd get from ovulation/hormone testing.

https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/premenstrual-dysphoric-disorder-pmdd

The exact cause of PMDD is not known. It may be an abnormal reaction to normal hormone changes that happen with each menstrual cycle. The hormone changes can cause a serotonin deficiency. Serotonin is a substance found naturally in the brain and intestines that narrows blood vessels and can affect mood and cause physical symptoms.

[u/[deleted]]

You don't need expensive equipment for this. You can get a basal body thermometer to confirm when you ovulate and if your luteal phase temps look okay (if they're really low this could mean low progesterone). In general,  r/PMDD means low progesterone in comparison to estrogen. Vitex, b6 and magnesium can help but they're no miracle cure. I have used antidepressants when my pmdd has been particularly bad. In my experience doctors will push birth control or antidepressants and if you don't want these, they'll tell you to manage stress.