Premenstrual syndrome

• When I ask my menstrual health workshop participants – including clinicians – there’s usually a lot of shrugging and shaking of heads.
• If given multiple choice options, most think that periods either “clean the womb” or somehow “help prepare for pregnancy”.
• Yes, the blood part can stain clothing, but there is nothing pathological, contaminating, or dangerous about periods.

So, why do we have periods?

• Periods likely evolved as a kind of preemptive abortion, to protect women from unviable or dangerous pregnancies.
• As a result, we have low rates of conception, high rates of miscarriage, and extremely high rates of maternal mortality in comparison to other mammals.
• The menstrual cycle is critical for facilitation of the initial steps of this raison d’être of the female reproductive system.
• The menstrual cycle is critical for facilitation of the initial steps of this raison d’être of the female reproductive system.

What else don’t we know?

• Perhaps with the fact that the second phase of the cycle from ovulation to menstruation is a series of highly inflammatory processes.
• This was only very briefly mentioned in three out of 16 textbooks.
• We really ought to be taught from puberty how to reduce period pain and blood loss – this is not difficult science.

Why aren’t we taught this stuff?

• My research shows that the exclusive focus on the female sex hormones in menstrual education is informed by societal influences, such as the myth of the hysterical or hormonal female.
• This gender myth is still alive and well, although now we tend to blame the (female sex) hormones.

• Again, there was no scientific reason for this change in focus, although it reflected existing societal beliefs about the inherently irrational behaviour of women.
• Unfortunately, menstrual health literacy has not yet recovered from this shift in physiological models.

So what?

• It also becomes much easier to differentiate premenstrual changes from underlying health conditions, since the latter will not be substantially alleviated by anti-inflammatory interventions alone.
• Teaching the reductive hormonal model of the menstrual cycle unintentionally provides pseudo-scientific evidence for the damaging hormonal or hysterical female gender myth.

Sally King is the founder of Menstrual Matters- the world's first evidence-based info hub on menstrual health and rights www.menstrual-matters.com. Her doctoral research and current research fellowship were funded by the ESRC (Economic and Social Research Council).

• Flo for Partners emerged as the #1 most requested feature in 2022, reflecting a growing demand for better education and understanding surrounding women's health.
• The lack of knowledge, misinformation and poor communication can also lead to a sexual disconnect between the partners.
• "Flo for Partners is Flo's most requested feature – and for good reason," said Cath Everett, VP of Product and Content at Flo.
• Flo remains committed to its mission of creating a better future for female health, and the protection of sensitive health information remains a top priority for Flo.

• Eighty-six percent of clinical trial participants experienced less painful periods after two months of consistent use, while 80% said their premenstrual syndrome (PMS) and menstrual symptoms had improved.
• Topline results from the clinical trial include:
  Reduced Pain & Discomfort: Participants reported their menstrual cramps were less severe (by 33%), bloating symptoms improved (by 30%) and they ultimately experienced fewer days of PMS symptoms overall.
• “When Your Super launched Moon Balance three years ago, it was purposefully formulated to improve female health,” said Anabel Oelmann, Co-Founder of The Healing Company.
• With more than three thousand five-star customer reviews, Moon Balance is consistently one of Your Super’s top rated and highest selling products.

• Flo's nationwide survey on the state of health literacy shows that 56% of UK women rely on generic advice from search engines for menstrual health information.
• 72% of women never double-check the health information they get on social media, while nearly one in five (18%) women aged 18–24 go to social media for information around menstrual health.
• Flo Health's 2023 UK Reproductive Health survey of 2,000 UK women aged 18–66 was commissioned by Flo Health and conducted by market research company OnePoll, in accordance with the Market Research Society's code of conduct.
• Flo Health's 2023 US Reproductive Health survey was conducted in January 2023 among 2,010 online adult women ages 18–55 via Cint.