RoadDog, PMS is for real in the recent literature. There was a lot of argument whether if it was real or not. A lot of the feminazi types thought it was just a theory made up by men. But any rational woman will tell you its for real. My mom was a classic example. She was a bear during her cycle. God bless my father!
Again no one is the same but there are some women who suffer from it. A lot of women will suffer heavy bleeding and heavy cramping and may not feel well. They deal with it and do fine. Others have huge mood swings and suffer depression. They will do things that they would not normally.
As far as treatment, people have tried birthcontrol pills, vitamins, exercise, cesation of smoking, drugs, strict diets, weight loss, new GnRH analogs such as lupron and surgery. Some women get relief from some of the combinations above. Menopause also brings some relief.