By Jane Elliott Health reporter, BBC News

Ann also had her womb and cervix removed

Ann Wilkinson suffered agonising premenstrual stress which affected every aspect of her life.

Her symptoms became so unbearable that at just 38, she took the decision to have her ovaries removed.

Few doctors were willing to consider Ann's surgery as she was deemed to be too young and had not had children.

But Ann, a student nurse from Staffordshire, was determined and last year underwent surgery after taking out a �5,000 loan for private treatment.

Mood swings

"In the end I had my ovaries, womb and cervix removed. My surgeon advised that because I would not be using my womb it would be a good idea to have it out in case of future problems," she said.

"I also had my cervix out at the same time because I had previously had problems with my smears.

"It was not that I didn't want children and I have not closed the door on having them somehow, it was just that I was too ill to consider them and would not, at this stage, have made a very good mother.

"The NHS threw anything they could at me not to do the operation - my age, the fact that I was overweight and the fact that I did not have any children.

I had severe cramps and wanted to eat all the time to get relief. I would be tired and forgetful. Little things would be out of proportion Ann Wilkinson

"They were not looking at me holistically. I have had premenstrual stress (PMS) for as long as I can remember.

"It started as what you might class normal PMS, but then in my 20s it got awful and then in my 30s it was unliveable."

Two weeks before her period started, Ann said she would have severe PMS, often starting with a stomach pain when she ovulated.

This was followed by mood swings - she would become irrationally angry, frustrated and cry for no reason. She also suffered from bulimia and migraine.

Her abdomen would become bloated and she suffered backache, nervous tension, tender breasts, sleeping problems, stomach cramps, leg pains and memory loss.

Her irritable bowel syndrome would flare-up and she would be alternately hot and cold.

When her periods started her blood loss would be heavy, she said.

Ann initially had a chemical menopause

At first Ann was prescribed the contraceptive pill, but that aggravated her migraine and left her with pins and needles in her limbs, followed by numbness and then vomiting.

Then she tried Prozac, which reduced her emotional problems, but within a week of her period starting they were back.

Next, she tried the diuretic bendrofluazide, which helped reduce her breast tenderness, and supplements of vitamin B and blackcurrant seed oil.

But she realised that things were getting worse and six years ago she started her battle to get her ovaries taken out.

"This was not a hurried decision, but my only choice," said Ann.

No regrets

Initially doctors prescribed her Prostap, which, although not licensed for PMS, has the effect of putting the body into a chemical menopause.

"It brought amazing relief from my symptoms and validated the decision that having my ovaries surgically removed was my only option," she said.

After about a year on the drug, its effects started to wear off and Ann was back to square one.

Prozac gave some initial relief

"I felt frustrated and anxious. It is like you are screaming inside all the time. I would crawl to the loo to be sick and crawl back.

"I had severe cramps and wanted to eat all the time to get relief. I would be tired and forgetful. Little things would be out of proportion."

But following her operation, Ann said she was now starting to live her life properly.

"My only regret is that I did not do it sooner," she said.

Nick Panay, a consultant gynaecologist and chairman of the National Association for Premenstrual Syndrome (Naps), said cases like Ann's needed careful understanding.

"Hormonal-related health is the most common recurrent health issue for many women," he said.

Until women's health has greater priority in GP practice, then many women will continue to be denied access to clinically reliable PMS treatment advice Chris Ryan, National Association for Premenstrual Syndrome

"Over 500,000 British women of reproductive age are affected by severe PMS, which often further increases in intensity following child bearing.

"Depression, severe mood swings and anxiety commonly combine to undermine the quality of life for sufferers.

"As a first step, all women of reproductive age should keep a menstrual diary to assess the effect of their cycle on their general and psychological health. If PMS is a major factor then they should seek informed advice."

Chris Ryan, also from Naps, said most women with severe PMS reported that GPs were poorly informed about the condition.

"They are often unsympathetic, despite the great distress PMS causes to both sufferers and to relationships.

"Treatment options offered are limited with too much reliance upon anti-depressants.