Due to women’s fluctuating hormones, many are prone to premenstrual syndrome and the discomfort it causes during their monthly cycles. This subject, little mentioned because still "taboo", has recently come to the fore in the media, revealing that menstruation and the period leading up to it are still a stigmatising factor in women's discomfort with major physical and psychological repercussions.

Definition

PMS includes a group of symptoms that occur during the luteal phase of the menstrual cycle, i.e. after ovulation about a week before the period, and disappear a day or two later. It manifests itself in a number of ways, both physically (painful, swollen breasts, weight gain, bloating, tummy aches, etc.) and psychologically (sadness, irritability, fatigue, feeling unwell, impatience, anxiety, etc.) (1). One out of two women is bothered by these symptoms.

The physical and psychological impact of menstruation: key figures

According to an IFOP survey for INTIMINA (2) carried out in 2021, nearly one out of every two women suffer from painful periods. This figure rises to 60% among young girls aged between 15 and 19, 20% of whom claim to have very painful periods. This shows that menstruation has a major impact on women's health, due to the lack of medical treatment for these symptoms.

Menstrual cycles also seem to have an effect on women's psychological state. Indeed, 81% of women say they suffer from discomforts such as fatigue (80%), irritability (71%) and feeling uncomfortable with their bodies (59%). These symptoms are described as more intense in women suffering from painful periods, which attests to the stress and discomforts caused by the menstrual cycle.

Despite recent progress in recognising endometriosis and polycystic ovary syndrome as gynaecological diseases, many French women endure these complications during their monthly cycle because society and the medical profession fail to take them into account.

Unlike Spain, a pioneer country in Europe when it comes to menstrual leave in the workplace, there is as yet no draft legislation in this area in France, although a tiny proportion of companies have taken the initiative.

While an Ifop survey (3) carried out on close to 1000 employees confirms that this measure would meet the expectations of a large majority of working women. The fact is that: 
    
•    66% of female employees are in favour of menstrual leave in the workplace and 64% of the women concerned could make use of it
•    65% of female employees have already experienced difficulties at work because of their periods
•    53% of female employees have painful periods
•    37% of employees say that the inconvenience of menstruation is underestimated in their company

Recommendations

In the most common cases, the physiological and psychological effects of the premenstrual period remain fairly mild. If the discomfort becomes severe and seems similar to depression, it may be a case of PMDD or premenstrual dysphoric disorder, which requires medical advice. 

There is no specific medical treatment for PMS, as the causes are still poorly understood. However, we do know that the main cause of PMS is stress, which affects the hormonal system (oestrogen and progesterone levels). Stress leads to the production of cortisol, which directly affects the hormonal balance of the cycle. In the brain, cyclical variations in hormone levels influence the production and activity of certain neurotransmitters (4).

To reduce mild symptoms, simple lifestyle measures are recommended: get a good night's sleep, take part in relaxing activities and exercise regularly, eat less salt to limit water retention and more complex carbohydrates and proteins, and avoid smoking and stimulants such as caffeine and alcohol. 

In addition, to reduce the impact of emotional symptoms and pain, taking dietary supplements rich in calcium, magnesium and vitamin B6 is a way of easing the discomfort caused by hormonal changes. More and more women seem to be turning to natural solutions, which is the subject of our next article.

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