Rethinking the label: who benefits from the PMS construct?

Women & Health
M Gurevich

Abstract

After over 60 years of research on the premenstrual syndrome (PMS), work in this area continues to be characterized by a pervasive lack of consensus about the definition, aetiology, and treatment, nor is there agreement regarding the utility of this construct. The persistence of PMS as a medical category despite the inconclusiveness of the research, suggests that PMS is not simply a biomedical entity which eludes explanation. It is also a rather complex, ideologically and culturally constructed category, which is predicated on a number of unarticulated, but well-entrenched beliefs about the nature of science, biology, health, and femaleness. In this review of the feminist theoretical literature on PMS, the historical, cultural, economic, and political forces that have led to the popularization and medicalization of PMS are explored in light of these assumptions, with a particular emphasis on those that pertain to female biology and psychology. It is argued that research on the premenstruum requires the development of a cohesive theoretical framework that would permit a new lexicon and new questions to explore more fully this aspect of women's menstrual health.

Citations

Nov 26, 2002·Scandinavian Journal of Caring Sciences·Herdís SveinsdóttirAstrid Norberg
Jul 26, 2012·Health Care for Women International·Miriam Taylor GomezKate Van Dooren
Jul 26, 2013·American Journal of Men's Health·Luciana Magnoni ReberteJuliana Reale Caçapava Rodolpho

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Related Concepts

Trending Feeds

COVID-19

Coronaviruses encompass a large family of viruses that cause the common cold as well as more serious diseases, such as the ongoing outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19; formally known as 2019-nCoV). Coronaviruses can spread from animals to humans; symptoms include fever, cough, shortness of breath, and breathing difficulties; in more severe cases, infection can lead to death. This feed covers recent research on COVID-19.

Blastomycosis

Blastomycosis fungal infections spread through inhaling Blastomyces dermatitidis spores. Discover the latest research on blastomycosis fungal infections here.

Nuclear Pore Complex in ALS/FTD

Alterations in nucleocytoplasmic transport, controlled by the nuclear pore complex, may be involved in the pathomechanism underlying multiple neurodegenerative diseases including Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Frontotemporal Dementia. Here is the latest research on the nuclear pore complex in ALS and FTD.

Applications of Molecular Barcoding

The concept of molecular barcoding is that each original DNA or RNA molecule is attached to a unique sequence barcode. Sequence reads having different barcodes represent different original molecules, while sequence reads having the same barcode are results of PCR duplication from one original molecule. Discover the latest research on molecular barcoding here.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Chronic fatigue syndrome is a disease characterized by unexplained disabling fatigue; the pathology of which is incompletely understood. Discover the latest research on chronic fatigue syndrome here.

Evolution of Pluripotency

Pluripotency refers to the ability of a cell to develop into three primary germ cell layers of the embryo. This feed focuses on the mechanisms that underlie the evolution of pluripotency. Here is the latest research.

Position Effect Variegation

Position Effect Variagation occurs when a gene is inactivated due to its positioning near heterochromatic regions within a chromosome. Discover the latest research on Position Effect Variagation here.

STING Receptor Agonists

Stimulator of IFN genes (STING) are a group of transmembrane proteins that are involved in the induction of type I interferon that is important in the innate immune response. The stimulation of STING has been an active area of research in the treatment of cancer and infectious diseases. Here is the latest research on STING receptor agonists.

Microbicide

Microbicides are products that can be applied to vaginal or rectal mucosal surfaces with the goal of preventing, or at least significantly reducing, the transmission of sexually transmitted infections. Here is the latest research on microbicides.