Markup View

Author: Antigone3

Feb 18th 2012 at 8:11:06 AM

I don't have any ideas for a better title, but I took a shot at a better description:

Pre-menstrual syndrome ([=PMS=]) refers to the physical and mental effects of hormone changes in females of childbearing years.  Those effects can include depression, tender breasts, food cravings, bloating, fatigue, mood swings, constipation or diarrhea, and irritability.  The Mayo Clinic [[http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/premenstrual-syndrome/DS00134 estimates]] that three out of four women between puberty and menopause will have some form of [=PMS=].

If a fictional work decides to avert NoPeriodsPeriod, though, forget about the 25% who don't suffer any ill effects.  The only effect of [=PMS=] will be irritability, and ''every'' menstruating woman ''will'' suffer from it.

Occasionally, a work will use a different effect of [=PMS=].  However, even then authors stick to effects that make the character irritable.  Cramps are good for this, especially considering that 2-3 days of pain will make just about anyone cranky.  Bloating might show up so the character can complain about her clothes not fitting.  You won't see food cravings, though, unless the character is about to learn she's pregnant.