Latest news with #PMDD
India.com
5 days ago
- Health
- India.com
Menstrual Hygiene Day: 7 Talks On Menstrual Hygiene And Mental Well Being
Muskan Kalra May 28, 2025 How menstrual cycles can affect mood, anxiety levels, and overall mental well-being. Mindfulness, exercise, nutrition, and hygiene routines that help balance physical and emotional health. The importance of open conversations to reduce stigma and shame linked to periods. How lack of access can cause stress, embarrassment, and impact self-esteem. Addressing psychological symptoms associated with PMS, PMDD, and other conditions. Creating safe spaces for discussion and providing resources. Teaching menstrual health as a part of holistic well-being and mental health awareness. Read Next Story
Hindustan Times
25-05-2025
- Health
- Hindustan Times
Bella Hadid says it should be illegal to work during period, calls for 2-week menstrual leave
Supermodel Bella Hadid has made a statement, and not for a runway or pap look, but for a strong and honest take on menstrual health, calling it illegal to work on periods. In an interview with Vogue UK, Bella opened up about living with a range of menstrual conditions like endometriosis, PMDD, and PCOS. As a supermodel with hectic shoots and demanding schedules, she stays busy. But since she has chronic conditions like endometriosis and PMDD, it means that she often needs to push through excruciating pain and emotional distress. Bella reflected on her early modelling days, recalling how challenging they were. She also opened up about walking the runway while dealing with debilitating period pain and pushing through despite the struggle. She said, "I was like 17, 18 years old, not knowing or loving myself a hundred percent yet. I had just moved out of my parents' house and gone straight into a world where you have to stare in the mirror every single day. And we get our periods. You're shooting Victoria's Secret on your period, with endo. That should be illegal. I'm going to talk to the White House about it, because we should literally ban women working on the week of their period. And the week before, to be honest." Menstrual leave is already an ongoing and important discussion, with many advocating for workplace policies to accommodate leaves or work from home (WFH). A post shared by Bella 🦋 (@bellahadid) While two weeks may sound unusual to some, for Bella, who has been diagnosed with prominent menstrual health conditions like endometriosis, Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder (PMDD), and PCOS, period pain and related symptoms can be much more intense and debilitating, not only during menstruation week but also in the week leading up to it. Not just Bella, many women go through the same. For the uninitiated, endometriosis is a chronic condition where tissue similar to the uterine lining grows outside of the uterus. This causes overwhelmingly acute period cramps, much worse than regular pain. Meanwhile, Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder is a much more severe form of PMS, or premenstrual syndrome. It typically involves extreme depression, anxiety, and mood swings in the weeks before the period. Both of these conditions intensify the menstrual experience as endometriosis causes intense physical pain during menstruation, while PMDD contributes to emotional distress in the week before. This explains why Bella, diagnosed with both conditions, strongly emphasised the need for taking two weeks off, not just during menstruation but also the week before. Bella's statement shows how period pain exists on a spectrum. The severity can also be influenced by chronic menstrual conditions, affecting not only the period week but the week before as well. When menstrual leave policies are discussed, it's important to understand that menstrual pain is not uniform for all, and conditions, including endometriosis and several others, also need to be taken into consideration. ALSO READ: Is it more than just menstrual cramps? 5 signs of endometriosis you can't ignore
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Women scared to get pregnant due to overlooked disorder
If 29-year-old Marianne Barry doesn't take the contraceptive pill each day, she could have symptoms of severe anxiety or even suicidal thoughts. Marianne has pre-menstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD), a condition which affects as many as 8% of women, but for which the average wait time for a diagnosis is around 12 years. Contraception remains the primary course of treatment for women living with PMDD, but for women who wish to become pregnant this poses a dilemma. "I want to have a child, but I also want to be sane," said Marianne. The Welsh government said it was "determined to improve the diagnosis, treatment and awareness of conditions affecting women", including PMDD. Premenstrual disorder hits relationships - study 'My periods make me suicidal' Marianne, a teaching assistant from Cardiff, spent eight years going back and forth to her GP before seeking a private diagnosis two years ago, when her symptoms became overwhelming. "I would wake up in the morning and I could feel this thing bubbling up inside of me," she said. "It was like my brain was almost hot with feelings of anger, being upset, anxiety – the anxiety was just insane." She began to realise that her symptoms coincided with her menstrual cycle, and started to make a record of them. "I could feel it and I'd go 'OK, well I know my period's coming.'" Before she was prescribed the contraceptive pill, Marianne's symptoms would re-appear each month, which she said left her in a constant cycle of anxiety. "You almost feel like you've made it up because you have this really bad low and then everything seems to start getting better again as you're coming towards that ovulation period." According to the NHS, symptoms of PMDD are "similar to PMS, but are much more intense and can have a much greater negative impact on your everyday life". Symptoms can include: Headaches and joint and muscle pain Overeating and problems sleeping Feeling very anxious, angry, depressed or suicidal. The exact cause of PMDD is not fully understood, but the average wait time for a diagnosis is around 12 years in Wales. Dr Llinos Roberts, a GP, believes this is due to a lack of research. "The treatment options are somewhat limited and I think this reflects the lack of research historically that's gone into health issues particularly affecting women," said Dr Roberts. "The options we have are contraception, which helps reduce the symptoms of PMDD. Also you've got the options of treating the actual symptoms with CBT and antidepressants." For Marianne, who wants children in the future, the idea of coming off her medication and her symptoms potentially returning is too daunting for her. "There's no certainty that you're going to get pregnant, you don't know how long it's going to take. So, I want to have a child but I also want to be sane," she said. "I'm too scared to come off my pill now." Corinne Sinclair, 30, from Cardiff, was diagnosed with PMDD two months ago and is currently trying for a baby. Antidepressants are her only treatment option but she has been told by doctors that if she gets pregnant, she will have to think about coming off those too. "I think more research could be done into PMDD to give women more options that isn't just taking the contraceptive pill," said Corrine. "It's a bit of a cop-out really and I feel they tend to do that with a lot of women's issues." Corinne also has endometriosis, which can make conceiving a child more difficult. She said the worry of this, and the potential return of her PMDD symptoms - which include dark thoughts and struggling to find the motivation to get out of bed - caused her a lot of stress. "When you're trying for a baby, it's supposed to be an exciting and happy time and it is, and I'm still hopeful and looking forward to it, but there is that niggly worry at the back of your head," she said. "After having the baby, am I going to suffer with my mental health? "During pregnancy, am I going to be really unwell mentally?" Dr Roberts said PMDD could be difficult to diagnose as it was often mistaken for depression or anxiety. She advised women with suspected PMDD to keep a detailed diary of their symptoms, to keep track of when they occur and subside, and to provide that evidence to their GP. She said there was no silver bullet for women with PMDD who wanted to have children. "This can be very challenging for women who want to conceive but know that if they come off their contraception that's likely to exacerbate their PMDD symptoms," she said. "If they're somebody who has significant PMDD symptoms, it's a matter of balancing the pros and cons of coming off contraception." The Welsh government said its Women's Health Plan for Wales outlined how it was "determined to improve the diagnosis, treatment and awareness of conditions affecting women". "Pre-menstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) is included as part of the menstrual health priority area within the plan," a spokesperson said. "Funding of £3m will be used to deliver the actions in the plan." Additional reporting by Dani Thomas. Period-related condition causing extreme distress
BBC News
23-05-2025
- Health
- BBC News
PMDD: 'I want a child but I'm scared to come off the pill'
If 29-year-old Marianne Barry doesn't take the contraceptive pill each day, she could have symptoms of severe anxiety or even suicidal has pre-menstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD), a condition which affects as many as 8% of women, but for which the average wait time for a diagnosis is around 12 remains the primary course of treatment for women living with PMDD, but for women who wish to become pregnant this poses a dilemma."I want to have a child, but I also want to be sane," said Welsh government said it was "determined to improve the diagnosis, treatment and awareness of conditions affecting women", including PMDD. Marianne, a teaching assistant from Cardiff, spent eight years going back and forth to her GP before seeking a private diagnosis two years ago, when her symptoms became overwhelming."I would wake up in the morning and I could feel this thing bubbling up inside of me," she said."It was like my brain was almost hot with feelings of anger, being upset, anxiety – the anxiety was just insane."She began to realise that her symptoms coincided with her menstrual cycle, and started to make a record of them."I could feel it and I'd go 'OK, well I know my period's coming.'"Before she was prescribed the contraceptive pill, Marianne's symptoms would re-appear each month, which she said left her in a constant cycle of anxiety."You almost feel like you've made it up because you have this really bad low and then everything seems to start getting better again as you're coming towards that ovulation period." What is PMDD? According to the NHS, symptoms of PMDD are "similar to PMS, but are much more intense and can have a much greater negative impact on your everyday life".Symptoms can include:Headaches and joint and muscle painOvereating and problems sleepingFeeling very anxious, angry, depressed or exact cause of PMDD is not fully understood, but the average wait time for a diagnosis is around 12 years in Wales. Dr Llinos Roberts, a GP, believes this is due to a lack of research."The treatment options are somewhat limited and I think this reflects the lack of research historically that's gone into health issues particularly affecting women," said Dr Roberts."The options we have are contraception, which helps reduce the symptoms of PMDD. Also you've got the options of treating the actual symptoms with CBT and antidepressants." For Marianne, who wants children in the future, the idea of coming off her medication and her symptoms potentially returning is too daunting for her."There's no certainty that you're going to get pregnant, you don't know how long it's going to take. So, I want to have a child but I also want to be sane," she said."I'm too scared to come off my pill now." Corinne Sinclair, 30, from Cardiff, was diagnosed with PMDD two months ago and is currently trying for a baby. Antidepressants are her only treatment option but she has been told by doctors that if she gets pregnant, she will have to think about coming off those too."I think more research could be done into PMDD to give women more options that isn't just taking the contraceptive pill," said Corrine."It's a bit of a cop-out really and I feel they tend to do that with a lot of women's issues."Corinne also has endometriosis, which can make conceiving a child more difficult. She said the worry of this, and the potential return of her PMDD symptoms - which include dark thoughts and struggling to find the motivation to get out of bed - caused her a lot of stress."When you're trying for a baby, it's supposed to be an exciting and happy time and it is, and I'm still hopeful and looking forward to it, but there is that niggly worry at the back of your head," she said."After having the baby, am I going to suffer with my mental health?"During pregnancy, am I going to be really unwell mentally?" No silver bullet Dr Roberts said PMDD could be difficult to diagnose as it was often mistaken for depression or anxiety. She advised women with suspected PMDD to keep a detailed diary of their symptoms, to keep track of when they occur and subside, and to provide that evidence to their said there was no silver bullet for women with PMDD who wanted to have children."This can be very challenging for women who want to conceive but know that if they come off their contraception that's likely to exacerbate their PMDD symptoms," she said."If they're somebody who has significant PMDD symptoms, it's a matter of balancing the pros and cons of coming off contraception." The Welsh government said its Women's Health Plan for Wales outlined how it was "determined to improve the diagnosis, treatment and awareness of conditions affecting women"."Pre-menstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) is included as part of the menstrual health priority area within the plan," a spokesperson said."Funding of £3m will be used to deliver the actions in the plan." Additional reporting by Dani Thomas.
Daily Record
23-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Record
Helen Flanagan opens up on surprising reason she turned down Strictly - and why she's ready now
Helen Flanagan has revealed the surprising reason why she turned down BBC's Strictly Come Dancing during a recent podcast - but she's open to joining the dance competition now Helen Flanagan has opened up about the unexpected reason she declined a spot on BBC Strictly Come Dancing and why she's now reconsidering her decision. The former Coronation Street actress has previously featured on multiple reality TV shows such as Celebs Go Dating and I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here!. In a candid conversation on the Elle Sera podcast with host Elissa Corrigan, Helen delved into topics ranging from motherhood and her career to her diagnosis with her long battle with Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder (PMDD). The star shared her desire to return to acting and also expressed an interest in participating on BBC Strictly, saying she feels more ready and mature this time around. Host Elissa asked Helen if she would ever do any reality TV again, to which Helen replied: "I don't think so. I mean I'd absolutely love to do Strictly at some point. Yeah, I mean I'd be a rubbish dancer, don't get me wrong." "I remember actually I was offered to do Strictly Come Dancing when I think I was 22 and I was offered Strictly Come Dancing or the jungle and I for some reason chose the jungle. I mean it worked out well for me in the end," she revealed. "I actually think though sometimes, I mean I was very young, I think the older the better when you do reality shows. "I think sometimes when you're really young, you don't deal with things the same." "I'd love to do Strictly Come Dancing at one point. I'd absolutely love to, but it's such a popular show. You know there's so many people that would love to do it," she continued. Back in 2012, Helen appeared in ITV's I'm A Celeb - the same year she left Corrie - at the age of 22. Although she revealed she was "absolutely destroyed" after her first appearance in the jungle, admitting she was "horrified". In 2023, she opened up about her time down under for the show, she said: "I just got absolutely destroyed. It was just ridiculous. I was just like, 'Oh, I'll be fine. I'll chill in my bikini, make some friends, it will be good for me'…" "I'd watched a few episodes but I didn't watch it in detail. I was only just YouTubing things when I was on my plane, then I was thinking, 'It won't be that bad," she admitted. She added: "I was horrified. I'll never forget it. When I arrived at the camp there were rats everywhere. "I'd never seen a rat. I was just absolutely thrown. I felt sick. I was so scared. I was just horrified by everything."
