mysticcat: Been married for 18 years. You're wrong this time, science.

She really does want to cut your nuts off.

mysticcat:

Been married for 18 years. You're wrong this time, science.

Yeah well I've had PMS for 18 years. Science is irrelevant.

I think my roomate makes it longer just so she can be a biatch to me longer

I still think it exists. For me, running up to about 4 days prior to my period starting, I start getting really sensitive. Like, I'll be reading Hallmark cards in Walgreens and start choking up. A schmaltzy commercial will drive me to tears. This doesn't happen any other time of the month except for then, and even when I am not paying attention to my cycle to have the effect of 'anticipating' it. The minute my period starts, all of the tumultuous emotions also stop as suddenly as they began. If I was angry, or obsessing about something it would stop.

I'm not saying the scientist are wrong, but the study doesn't prove that PMS is a myth. It is possible that not every woman experiences it to the same degree or in the same way as others. Some people may be very sensitive to the hormonal changes. It may be a myth only that every woman will be moody during that time, but there's nothing in that study to suggest that the hormones do not effect some women's emotions more than others.

Summary: Sometimes people have bad moods, but not all the time. Sometimes those moods are due to chemical changes in the body, but not all the time. Sometimes the chemical changes are due to menstruation. Sometimes the chemical changes cause differently timed moods changes.

Maybe so many women exhibit PMS symtoms only because women are conditioned to think that it's inevitable and men are conditioned to expect it.

Sort of like how we think being cold leads to having colds.

Bleeds for 7 days and doesn't die. Must be evil.

Don't say that out loud. YOU NEVER EVER EVER SAY THAT OUT LOUD!!!!!

super_grass: Maybe so many women exhibit PMS symtoms only because women are conditioned to think that it's inevitable and men are conditioned to expect it.

Yeah, that doesn't explain why people still have the symptoms when they aren't actually aware they are about to go through their cycle. If it was in me to cry at hallmark cards and make a fool of myself in Walgreens, that would be something that I wouldn't be 'working myself up to' on just a four day period out of the month. It'd be something you would see more often.

super_grass: Maybe so many women exhibit PMS symtoms only because women are conditioned to think that it's inevitable and men are conditioned to expect it.

Mmm, maybe. My wife never knows when hers is coming and she's never PMS-like before it. It might be that people who are more conscious of the schedule trick themselves into getting more emotional. I really just think it's a matter of "happens to some not all."

This Looks Fun: My wife never knows when hers is coming and she's never PMS-like before it.

Is she on the pill? Or really is just that irregular naturally?

Thanks goodness men never use their hormones as an excuse to act like assholes. They're quite an inspiration.

I was especially inspired by that guy who went into a spa and killed 3 people (and injured 3 others) because his wife got a restraining order against him.

Subby is deader than fried chicken by now.

Having said that, I don't believe "PMS" affects most women. I think many women are just colossal assholes. They use the PMS excuse because they think that makes it alright. It doesn't. It also doesn't last all month. Or for a week afterwards. The P in PMS means "Pre", not "Perpetual."

OMG! We're All Gonna Die!: Don't say that out loud. YOU NEVER EVER EVER SAY THAT OUT LOUD!!!!!

Thats Right! 'cause they won't kill the douche that said it. They'll just kill the closest guy.

Has anyone experienced the a very drunk, PMSing, angry girlfriend? I have experienced all three separately but this was the first time for the triple-header of pure evil.

/I need to buy all new dishes.

This Looks Fun: Summary: Sometimes people have bad moods, but not all the time. Sometimes those moods are due to chemical changes in the body, but not all the time. Sometimes the chemical changes are due to menstruation. Sometimes the chemical changes cause differently timed moods changes.

Sounds right. My physical symptoms during the standard PMS timeframe certainly overwhelm any emotional ones I might have, but I know plenty of women whose physical symptoms aren't as bad as mine, and I'm sure there are plenty who have intense emotional symptoms. Biological diversity!

I don't know if it's real or it isn't, but I pretty much knew that if my mother bought a bag of Oreos home from the store and it was already opened, I should probably just leave her alone for a few days.

Even if it isn't a myth, get a hold of yourself.

the girlfriend is completely awesome with the exception of about 20 minutes per month. those 20 minutes lead to the weirdest non-sequitur commments imaginable.

gf: "what do you want to do this weekend. should we ride bicyc...WHY ARE YOU WEARING THAT SHIRT?!"

as long as i see it for what it is and just keep my mouth shut, it passes uneventfully. if i don't realize what is happening and get snippy in return, i spend the next 2-3 days being reminded about every shortcoming and personal failing of the last 11 years.

As the article mentioned briefly, males can have similar responses to swings in testosterone. It happens to me, and after nine years, it's synchronized with my girlfriend pretty well.

I do appreciate that when I watch some episode of a TV comedy and suddenly feel that I really understand how it feels to have that happen to me *sniff*, I can go and ask her if we're PMSing. The answer? Almost invariably a resounding "yes".

I fall into the severe PMS category of PMDD. I haven't kept track of my cycles for about 15 years now, because I really have no reason to, but there is always that reminder every month, when I become suicidal or homicidal. Fortunately for me, medication helps enough that I can function. It does exist, and studies show some genetic connection with estrogen receptors.

It's so bad that I can cry over a good thing happening, or a bad thing happening, or nothing happening, or my shoe being untied, or my knapsack zipper unzipped. It was the same way when I was pregnant too, so I guess I am just really sensitive to some hormonal changes.

What's funny is that the headline doesn't suggest PMS is a myth for everybody. It's a myth for some people. Meanwhile, my wife has never had PMS, but she had horrible during menstrual symptoms. I don't know how many people PMS does actually affect, but there is no question there are some of us who are overly affected by hormonal changes.

TFA: However, a further 38% of the studies found no association between mood and any particular phase of the cycle. And 9% found that the worst moods actually occurred outside of the premenstrual phase. That means that little more than half of the studies (53%) found any link between menstruation and bad mood, and 85% didn't find classic PMS.

Or, reading this the other way:
62% of the studies found an association between mood and a particular phase of the cycle. While only 15% occurred during the "classic" PMS period, 47% of the studies found a link between menstruation and bad mood, thus proving the existence of an effect.

/lies, damn lies, and statistics

Only 15% of the studies found that women tended to have "classic" PMS: moods that worsened as the menstrual period approached and lifted when menstruation occurred. An additional 38% found PMS that lasted into menstruation or another cycle phase.

Let's see, 15% + 38% = 53%

The majority of studies found that PMS existed, therefore, it is a myth.

johnny queso: as long as i see it for what it is and just keep my mouth shut, it passes uneventfully. if i don't realize what is happening and get snippy in return, i spend the next 2-3 days being reminded about every shortcoming and personal failing of the last 11 years.

Just passed 23 years in my case, but still true. ;-)

so basically, roughly 85% of women are just manipulative biatches?

Prank Monkey: Has anyone experienced the a very drunk, PMSing, angry girlfriend? I have experienced all three separately but this was the first time for the triple-header of pure evil.

/I need to buy all new dishes.

I wouldn't be surprised if Insurance Claims forms have have a section specifically for incidents like that.

gulogulo: This Looks Fun: My wife never knows when hers is coming and she's never PMS-like before it.

Is she on the pill? Or really is just that irregular naturally?

Oh, hehe neither to any strong degree. She's slightly irregular (a few days or so either way), but mostly just oblivious and apathetic.

Why do I get the feeling that some of these anecdotes have something to do with the bipolar condition?

/runs

Science, you are wrong.

I can tell which ovary Mrs. Banned is ovulating from. Every other month is distinctly different -- irritable one month, demon from hell the next.

My greatest fear is that at menopause, I'm going to find that Mrs. Banned's real mood state was the PMS one and the more pleasant 3 weeks of the month were caused by her menstrual cycle.

/going to go curl up in the corner now

My boyfriend is obsessed with PMS. He thinks it explains all of my moods. It's really hard to explain to him that I'm just feeling super stressed and annoyed a lot at the moment (getting to the end of an intensive degree).

I get super grumpy DURING periods, but that's because periods are horrible and icky and make my insides hurt. I think where my dissertation is going is a much bigger game-changer, emotion-wise, than my uterus, but he thinks PMS is the lady-problems gospel. I will show him this.

Won't go so far as to say it's a myth, but yeah, it's as over diagnosed as ADD. I know that when the missus had her hysterectomy, and it put an end to the monthly visit...much less moodiness.

/Used to say the "P" stood for "PERMANENT"'
//She was very musical...three weeks of the blues then a week of ragtime

Concur that the changes in hormones can and do cause discomfort, but the severity certainly varies, and/or the PRECEPTION of the severity varies. Before I got on birth control (I know, I'm such a slut), every month there were a couple of days of noticeable symptoms. The severity ranged from annoying to GAWD KILL ME. At the risk of sounding fat, during this time I also gained the power to eat without feeling full. I also acknowledge, though, that I may have viewed bad symptoms to be worse while going through stress on the job or something.

However, whenever I felt like a Goodyear blimp or my insides were imploding, I sucked it up or removed myself. Never took it out on someone. Bad behavior is bad behavior, and there is no excuse for disrespect even when you are in pain. Obscenities are one thing-- when cramps come on it can be like stubbing your toe and reflexively yelling fark is understandable. Same remedy applies-- take some Motrin and lie down. But going on the rampage to put the fear of god into your loved ones? That's 100% bratty melodrama.

Women. They sure complain a lot.

Prank Monkey: Has anyone experienced the a very drunk, PMSing, angry girlfriend? I have experienced all three separately but this was the first time for the triple-header of pure evil.

/I need to buy all new dishes.

New dishes? LOL you farkin' rookie.

/new TV, two new monitors, new headphones, new bedroom door, new closet door, And she's my wife so I can't just throw her out.

sandbar67: Prank Monkey: Has anyone experienced the a very drunk, PMSing, angry girlfriend? I have experienced all three separately but this was the first time for the triple-header of pure evil.

/I need to buy all new dishes.

New dishes? LOL you farkin' rookie.

/new TV, two new monitors, new headphones, new bedroom door, new closet door, And she's my wife so I can't just throw her out.

Damn. I just had to deal with a big mess and maybe $75-100. You win this round of crazy biatch smash.

I'll be more than happy to introduce them to my ex....

Skarekrough: Prank Monkey: Has anyone experienced the a very drunk, PMSing, angry girlfriend? I have experienced all three separately but this was the first time for the triple-header of pure evil.

/I need to buy all new dishes.

I wouldn't be surprised if Insurance Claims forms have have a section specifically for incidents like that.

No but I got the PMSing, drunk, horny trifecta last night from my g/f. was a welcome change from PMSing, angry, and judgmental.

SquiggsIN: Skarekrough: Prank Monkey: Has anyone experienced the a very drunk, PMSing, angry girlfriend? I have experienced all three separately but this was the first time for the triple-header of pure evil.

/I need to buy all new dishes.

I wouldn't be surprised if Insurance Claims forms have have a section specifically for incidents like that.

No but I got the PMSing, drunk, horny trifecta last night from my g/f. was a welcome change from PMSing, angry, and judgmental.

Also, mad respect for whoever made vodka taste like birthday cake so she'd drink it.

johnny queso: the girlfriend is completely awesome with the exception of about 20 minutes per month. those 20 minutes lead to the weirdest non-sequitur commments imaginable.

gf: "what do you want to do this weekend. should we ride bicyc...WHY ARE YOU WEARING THAT SHIRT?!"

as long as i see it for what it is and just keep my mouth shut, it passes uneventfully. if i don't realize what is happening and get snippy in return, i spend the next 2-3 days being reminded about every shortcoming and personal failing of the last 11 years.

Boy does that sound familiar, especially the last part.

So is the female orgasm.