Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder: A real fight for women
Nan Zhang
Image credit: Liza Summer on Pexel
Emotional ups and downs, unexplained anxiety, tiredness but trouble sleeping...many young Scottish women have been used to getting through this with ibuprofen and a hot water bottle every month. The problem is so called premenstrual syndrome (PMS).
It can be much worse. There are some women with premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) suffering from cramps, binge eating, out of control from anxiety, anger, in some cases, even suicidal thoughts.
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Recently, researchers at the University of Oxford have that around 1.6% of female population globally, some 31 million, have the condition.
“We don't have exact data for Scotland. We expect it to be the same.” Lynsay Matthews, who researches PMDD at University of the West of Scotland, told Blether Magazine.
There is other research showing that one in twenty women in UK have PMDD. “Most of us will know one person who has PMDD. And half of them will self-harm, and one in three of them will attempt suicide”, Matthews added.
Dr Lynsay Matthews
Image credit: Provided by Lynsay Matthews
What is PMDD?
PMDD is a very severe form of PMS. It causes a range of emotional and physical symptoms and has a significant impact on different aspects of daily life. Generally, it happens each month during the first or second week before the menstrual cycle.
At first it was believed to be “part of the monthly experience”, but it is basically agreed now that “PMDD is a psychological disorder and not part of the usual technical monthly cycle that all women experience”, Dr Matthews explained.
It has been listed in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5, one of the most widely used manuals for categorising and diagnosing mental health problems) since 2013 and classed as a disability in the UK under the Equality Act 2010.
Why is it difficult to deal with?
Last year, Dr Matthews and her team launched a PMDD research agenda, the first in the UK.
During interviews, the research team felt that there remains a stigma and that individuals are afraid to bring it up, even though in Scotland there are social and cultural advantages to doing so.
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“People find it very hard to open up about how much they're struggling, because they see their friends around them managing things with PMS. They may be afraid to bring it up at their work or at university, or even with their friends and family.”
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And this is not even considering a diagnosis, which is difficult to get.
from the International Association for Premenstrual Disorders (IAPMD) shows that a diagnosis takes an average of 12 years.
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Dr Matthews explained, “one of the challenges to be diagnosed with PMDD is that there is no test, because there is no difference in hormone levels. It's about how the brain reacts to the changing hormones”.
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There are a number of different triggers, some of which can occur in adolescence and young adulthood.
What could help?
Dr Matthews said, “The only method of being diagnosed is to track the menstrual cycle consistently and your mental health symptoms for several months.”
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This kind of tracking can be done in a diary, on Apps or through paper forms from a health professional.
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“What would be helpful for young people in Scotland to know is that if you can be diagnosed early, it makes a massive difference to the path of your life,” Dr Matthews emphasised.
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Dr Matthews said that the easiest way is to use an app, with the options “Clue Period” or “Me v PMDD”. “It lets you have a little bit of power over what you do but it is a medical condition, and it does require support.”
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As well as going to your GP, IAPMD provides fantastic resources and support for young Scottish women.