Can any pregnancy or delivery events cause premenstrual symptoms to start?
As far as we know, there is nothing about pregnancy, labor, or delivery that can change the uterus or ovaries so that there is a different hormonal environment with ovulation. Even though a woman may associate the new onset of symptoms with a delivery or even surgery, there is no evidence that these events are causative. The increased stress associated with life and living changes that stem from these events is a better explanation for any increase in premenstrual mood symptoms noted. To answer your question directly if it is common to develop the symptoms you experience, the answer is “no”. It does happen sometimes, however. When it does, you may need to consider it as the new onset of PMS or it may just be increased stress that seems to exceed the limits of coping during the height of menstrual hormones. In order to answer whether you have ongoing stress or depression that just worsens premenstrual, you will need to keep a prospective menstrual calendar. That is the only way to diagn
