Perimenstrual Changes Research Articles

Diabetes, menstruation, and the uterus

Diabetes, menstruation, and the uterus

Menstrual Socialization, Beliefs, and Attitudes Concerning Menstruation in Rural and Urban Mexican Women

Women living in rural and urban areas of Mexico answered a questionnaire about what they were told at home about menstruation before their menarche (first menstruation), and answered the Beliefs About and Attitudes Toward Menstruation Questionnaire. Around half of both urban and rural women were told that they were going to experience negative perimenstrual changes. There were fewer urban than rural women who were advised to do or not to do certain activities while menstruating. Menstrual socialization affected the beliefs and attitudes concerning menstruation held by women as adults. These findings are discussed in light of the sociocultural background of the participants.

Premenarcheal Mexican girls’ expectations concerning peri menstrual changes and menstrual attitudes

The objective of this study was to determine both the perimenstrual changes that Mexican premenarcheal girls expect to experience and their attitudes toward menstruation. A total of 750 premenarcheal girls in fifth and sixth grade were studied. Participants completed a Perimenstrual Change Checklist, which listed 20 negative possible perimenstrual changes and ten positive ones, and a Spanish version of the Adolescent Menstrual Attitude Questionnaire. The results showed a set of mostly negative perimenstrual expectations, the most common being discomfort, cramps or abdominal pain and mood swings. Concerning menstrual attitudes, the girls scored highest on secrecy, followed by negative feelings and by positive feelings. The girls who perceived menstruation as a negative event and with secrecy, expected more negative perimenstrual changes, while those who perceived menstruation as a positive event expected more positive perimenstrual changes. We believe premenarcheal girls, with no personal experience, must be more influenced by cultural stereotypes which are of a negative nature.

Positively Reframing Perceptions of the Menstrual Cycle among Women with Premenstrual Syndrome

To positively reframe perceptions of menstrual cycle experiences to diminish reports of negative perimenstrual symptoms among women with premenstrual syndrome (PMS). A longitudinal quasi-experimental research design; data were collected on 28 women. Treatment sessions were conducted in a university classroom in the northeastern United States. The intervention consisted of a health promotion program that provided social support and a psychoeducational intervention with a positive reframing psychotherapeutic maneuver. To describe (a) perceptions of biologic, psychologic, and social outcomes related to perimenstrual changes and (b) compare biologic, psychologic, and social outcomes of women participating in a health promotion intervention with women not participating. Negative perimenstrual symptom reports decreased for women in the experimental group. In addition, the participants' personal resources increased significantly. Participation in a peer support group that provides women with information on positive concomitants of the menstrual cycle can benefit women with PMS.

Effect of positive reframing and social support on perception of perimenstrual changes among women with premenstrual syndrome

Traditional menstrual cycle research reflects a stereotypical negative bias that does not encompass the complexity of the phenomena. For example, even though the majority of menstrual cycle literature has focused on negative changes during the perimenstruum, some women report positive changes. This article describes a unique intervention aimed at refraining perceptions of menstrual cycle experiences for the purpose of diminishing perimenstrual impairment. The intervention was a health promotion program that provided social support and a positive reframing component for women with premenstrual syndrome (PMS) across four menstrual cycles. Through use of a preexperimental design, data were collected on 18 women. Daily measures included prospective assessment of perceptions of perimenstrual changes (impairment and activation). Retrospective assessments of moods (anxiety and depression), social resources (personal resources and marital satisfaction), and perimenstrual change perceptions were gathered at three time periods—before, during, and after the experimental condition. Data analyses included descriptive and multivariate strategies. Results indicated that, although perimenstrual activation did not increase significantly, impairment did decrease. In addition, there were significant changes from baseline to follow‐up on state depression and personal resource variables. Findings from this study underscore the need for further investigation of the wide continuum of women's diverse menstrual cycle experiences.

Self-reported changes in capillary glucose and insulin requirements during the menstrual cycle.

Perimenstrual changes in glycaemic control and insulin requirements have been reported in Type 1 diabetes. A population-based sample of 124 women with Type 1 diabetes, aged 18 to 40 years, were questioned regarding perimenstrual changes in their self-monitored capillary blood glucose and insulin regimen. Sixty-one percent of women noted perimenstrual changes in capillary blood glucose. The commonest pattern was a premenstrual rise in glucose. Thirty-six percent of all study participants were making adjustments to their insulin dose in response to these changes in capillary blood glucose. There was no statistical difference in the mean glycated haemoglobin of subjects making perimenstrual adjustments in insulin (79.1 mmol mol-1 haem) compared to subjects who noted cyclical capillary glucose changes but did not adjust insulin (73.0 mmol mol-1 haem). Sixty-seven percent of subjects taking the fixed dose oestrogen/progesterone oral contraceptive pill (OCP) noted perimenstrual changes in glucose. In summary, a third of the women surveyed made perimenstrual adjustments to their insulin dose, but there was no evidence to suggest that this behaviour was associated with improved glycaemic control. Use of the fixed dose combined oral contraceptive pill did not eliminate perimenstrual changes in glucose.

Stress‐protective functions of positive experiences during the premenstrual period

AbstractThe present study aimed at studying the presence of positive emotions during the premenstruum. A positive premenstrual assessment form was constructed and administered to 48 female nursing students in the reproductive age group. Ratings were done using numerical and visual analogue scales. Forty‐six women reported experiencing at least some positive symptoms and two had none. Extremes of positive emotions were seen in 12–37 per cent of the women. The commonest emotions were a sense of well‐being in 75 per cent and feelings of excitement and relief in 62 per cent. Increased sexual desire was reported by 42 per cent. The implications of these positive perimenstrual changes are described in terms of a stress‐protective function regarding premenstrual distress and the premenstrual syndrome. It is likely that cultural factors may be involved in the stress‐protective functions of these positive experiences.

Positive perimenstrual changes: Toward a new perspective on the menstrual cycle

Although many women report negative symptoms, the perimenstrual phase also is associated with enhanced mood and performance among some women. However, research on perimenstrual concomitants reflects a sterotypic negative bias that does not encompass the complexity of the phenomena. This paper tries to redress that balance by documenting the prevalence of positive perimenstrual changes. Overall, about 5–15% of women experience increased excitement, energy, and well-being in the perimenstrual phase. Many women also report increased activity, heightened sexuality, and improved performance on certain types of tasks during the perimenstrual phase. Future research should examine why some women report positive perimenstrual changes, the extent to which individual variations in hormone levels can account for differences in women's perimenstrual experience, and how much women differ in their responsiveness to changing hormone levels. The influence of menstrual-related beliefs and expectations on the changes a woman reports also needs to be clarified.