Too much is made of a woman's mood when she is going through
her menstrual cycle, according to one Otago University
psychiatric study.
A study involving data collection from 76 women (380 cycles)
has shown a woman's mood does not change remarkably during
the premenstrual phase and when any change does occur it is
usually during the actual menstruation.
Prof Sarah Romans, of the Wellington clinical school of Otago
University, said the influences on a woman's mood were more
to do with external factors that could in fact be felt by men
as well.
She outlined stress, physical health and social support as
the three main influences on mood and said the menstrual
cycle did not have the effect many might have thought.
"It is challenging that notion. I would be on dangerous
territory if I said PMDD (premenstrual dysphoric disorder)
didn't exist.
"We make too much of it [the menstrual cycle].
"Don't automatically think when a woman is moody that she is
having her period."
Prof Romans said for women who do have mood drops during
their cycle, it was usually immediately before and during
menstruation.
The most notable drops in mood were in enjoyment and
confidence and in a woman's sexual interest and drive.
The "periodograms" of the study showed no real change in
anxiety levels, motivation, coping and energy levels.
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