PMS may seem like a fictional condition used to give women license to get cranky a few days a month, but it does exist—at least to some degree. Although new research has found mood swings may play a significantly smaller role than previously assumed, PMS is a clinically diagnosable disorder characterized by bloating, cravings, aches and pains, changes in sleep, acne, and, yes, mood swings. However, the idea that PMS is strictly a few days a month when women are a little bit touchier is wildly undergeneralizing the it. Premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD), on the other hand, is rarer, more extreme form of PMS, in which emotionality is the key diagnostic criteria. PMS requires only the physical symptoms be present for diagnosis, thus while it is real, it’s also considerably misunderstood.
Have more questions? See more answers from Alot.
