Is Something Wrong With My Body? A Historical and Contemporary Analysis of Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder (PMDD)

Women’s health is a severely understudied and misunderstood area within research and clinical settings. My project aims to understand how historically women's bodies have been exploited, and how this exploitation is reflected in the healthcare fields of gynecology and psychiatry. I am also interested in investigating how women who experience symptoms of Premenstrual Dysmorphic Disorder (PMDD) struggle to seek adequate treatment, and why women feel uncomfortable voicing their concerns in medical settings due to this historical oppression. 

• Gynecological research and mental health treatment strategies have commonly been unethically implemented on marginalized communities of individuals-- specifically Black women

• Our cultural understanding of menstruation and women's reproductive health has significantly contributed to a lack of funding and innovation when it comes to the mental and physical health symptoms women are displaying, which can explain misdiagnosis and underdiagnosis of this disorder

• PMDD is a cyclical mood disorder that is triggered via hormone fluctuations across the menstrual cycle. Symptoms must be present seven days before the onset of the menses; these symptoms must improve within a few days of the onset of the menses

A systematic review of multiple academic journals was used to highlight the lived experiences of women with PMDD, emphasizing how their interactions with the healthcare system often made it harder to seek treatment and fully understand the changes occurring in their bodies. 

An analysis of various historical accounts of women's mistreatment regarding their bodily and mental autonomy was used to understand the relationship that history has with current treatment methodology, diagnosis, and barriers associated with treatment within gynecology and psychiatry. 

Gaps were then identified within current research and treatment methodologies for this disorder, and two pamphlets were created--one for medical professionals and one for patients seeking help--to provide resources and strategies to understand PMDD and its effects on the lives of those who may need or have been diagnosed. 

• This project could have included narrative experiences from individuals diagnosed with PMDD that I could have interviewed myself. This would have allowed me to be more creative with my results and findings.

• This research has made me want to create a more comprehensive guide to challenge misconceptions about PMDD for not only the general public but also for medical professionals. A pamphlet was a great component to include in this project, but I want to develop something more extensive.

• In the future, I also want to create a coding manual for the quantitative data I collect via interviews.

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