In this book, Sally King interrogates the diagnostic label of premenstrual syndrome (PMS) to expose and challenge sexist assumptions within medical research and practice. She powerfully demonstrates how the concept of the ‘hormonal’ premenstrual woman is merely the latest iteration of the ‘hysterical’ female myth. By blaming the healthy reproductive body (first our wombs, now our hormones) for the female-prevalence of emotional distress and physical pain, gender myths appear to have trumped all empirical evidence to the contrary.

The book also provides a primer on menstrual physiology beyond hormones, and a short history of how hormonal metaphors came to dominate medical and popular discourses. The author calls for clinicians, researchers, educators and activists to help improve women’s health without unintentionally reproducing damaging stereotypes.

Introduction

Part 1: Menstrual Myth Making

1. The reduction and mystification of the menstrual cycle

2. How did we get here?

Part 2: Where are we now? PMS (Premenstrual Syndrome)

3. What counts as a premenstrual symptom?

4. Mind over matter: the psychologisation of premenstrual changes

5. Snatch-22: premenstrual changes as simultaneously ‘normal’ and debilitating

6. The curse: femininity as debility

7. Black box: the unknown/mysterious female reproductive body

8. Conclusion and call to action