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From “It’s All in Your Head ” to “Taking Back the Month”: Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS) Research and the Contributions of the Society for Menstrual Cycle Research

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Abstract

Our understanding of Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS) as a cultural entity and a medical concern has developed from different disciplines and represents a range of intellectual approaches to a complex, ill-understood phenomenon. Unfortunately, there has been little interaction among the disciplines at an integrative level of research, outside of the Society for Menstrual Cycle Research (SMCR) conferences and publications. This paper chronicles the history of PMS research, which began in mid-19th century America, and focuses on the contributions from the SMCR conferences that brought together scholars, clinicians, scientists, and women’s health advocates from across disciplines and nations to advance a multidisciplinary research agenda and the knowledge of perimenstrual experiences and syndromes.

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Notes

  1. Perimenstrual refers to the premenstrual phase (7–14 days before menses onset) and early menstrual phase (1–2 menstrual days). Depending on the particular research study, the premenstrual phase can be considered the whole luteal phase (14–16 days) after ovulation as determined by ovarian steroids or defined as early and late luteal phase (7 days each; Mitchell, Woods, Lentz, & Taylor, 1991).

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Acknowledgment

The author thanks Conference Chairpersons, Susan Cohen, Phyllis Mansfield, and Peggy Stubbs, for their manuscript review and Amy Glynn-Hornick and Claudia Schumann for their research and editorial assistance.

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    Diana Taylor

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Taylor, D. From “It’s All in Your Head ” to “Taking Back the Month”: Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS) Research and the Contributions of the Society for Menstrual Cycle Research. Sex Roles 54, 377–391 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11199-006-9009-z

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