Study, 2010
Should doctors ask women about how their menstrual cycle affects their emotions and behavior?
Yes. Many women experience different feelings and ways of being during different times of their menstrual cycle, but this has been largely ignored by mental health professionals. Asking women about their menstrual experience can help them understand and accept themselves.
What they did
The authors reviewed psychoanalytic literature and noted how the field has largely ignored the connection between hormones and mental health. They discuss why this happened and argue that it should be studied.
What they found
Mental health professionals have not paid attention to how the menstrual cycle affects women's emotions and behavior. This avoidance is based in sexism and concern that mentioning hormones would lead to negative views of women. However, many women experience different versions of themselves during different phases of their menstrual cycle.
What it means for you
Doctors and mental health professionals should recognize that the menstrual cycle affects emotions and behavior and should ask women about their menstrual experience. This can help women understand themselves better. The main limitation is that this is an opinion piece based on existing literature, not new research data.
1939
year of pioneering studies on menstrual cycle and the mind
About the study
- Original title
- The menstrual cycle as a subject of psychoanalytic inquiry
- Authors
- Kolod S
- Journal
- The journal of the American Academy of Psychoanalysis and Dynamic Psychiatry
- Year
- 2010
- Study design
- Study
- Read the paper
- doi.org/10.1521/jaap.2010.38.1.77
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