PMS is all in our heads.

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While perusing Slate, I came across this gem. I call bullsh*t.

Is PMS a culture-bound syndrome

According to the article, research has shown hormonal fluctuations don't affect your daily mood. It's all just an excuse, ladies. I threw in a poll, simply because I've never made one before.

I wish it were so ...

Hormonal 'fluctuations' can change a person's/animal's SEX, how can it NOT affect how ya feel??

Considering that the order of things for me is
A. Get cramps, bad mood, increased sensory issues, etc.
B. Realise that my period is on it's way.

rather than the other way round...

Definite BS.

You know how I know my period is almost here? I seriously eat everything in sight - and I mean *everything* - 3 days leading up to it, about 3 times as much food as I would normally. Constantly hungry. Never full. The cravings are terrible.

And I never "count" when my period is coming. I don't need to - because that lets me know, without fail.
That's hormones for you, they affect everything from your appetite, to your mood, to your sex drive, to your sleeping patterns.

I am a man and I have experienced first hand how hormonal flucuations can affect a woman's behavior. I have several sisters and I work around several women; I know PMS is real.

Yop, for sure. Hormons are only an illusion. That men have more facial hair because of hormones is also only an illusion. So if you thought until now, that you would shave your facial hair every morning: You are wrong, that was just an illusion. ^^

Joke out: I´d love it, if it only was an illusion. I´d love to get back that two days in month, when everythings worthless and sucks.

I call bull$#!+ also. Reason: In the early days, when my period wasn't regular and I thus couldn't accurately track it, my mother was always about to track it for me. I'd start throwing fits about stupid stuff, and Mom would go "You're being a little b*tch again. It's almost time for your period, isn't it?", and she would invariably be right.

I don't think it's psychosomatic. I also think you should be aware of your body and its signs - PMS is NEVER an excuse to be verbally or physically abusive or cruel.

Me too, it's always been the only way I can tell I am about to get my period.

I think PMS is for real. I'm saying this because one time around a month ago, I actually got pre-menstrual cramps a few days before my period. I would also get headaches before my periods, as well.

No matter how real something is, someone will always claim it’s all in your head.

Even if PMS is psychosomatic, it's still a real condition. Perhaps for some, it is culturally transmitted but of course these hormonal changes can affect mood. Plus, I know that when I get my period I can get agitated because my senses become way more intense. I do get a lot of sensory overload during my period. I don't think that's cultural, but I could be wrong.

Even if it doesn't affect my mood directly, being bloated and in pain certainly does.

I have a question about this, if that's okay. Is it common to think you're pregnant in the days leading up to your period? I ask because, for the two days before hers, my gf goes into a panic about that. Every single month. To the point where I can tell it's about to start just by hearing her saying the word "baby." Though I've learned from hard experience that it's a bad idea to just tell her "calm down, you're not knocked up, it's just your period. Just like when we had this conversation last month, and every month for all the years we've been togeher."

Maybe she gets them a few days late or something. Do her cycle lengths vary in frequency or do her periods usually come right on schedule?