By Lisa M. Belisle, MD, MPH

Originally published March/April 2010, Parent & Family

Were you planning to cut your hair, prune a tree or potty train a child this month?  If so, you may want to consult the Farmers' Almanac.  Based on the “phase of the moon and its position in the zodiac,” the Almanac offers the best days on which to perform these tasks.  Woman with functioning ovaries and a uterus can also verify that some days are MUCH better than others for certain tasks.  Rather than relying on the moon, women tune in to their own hormonal situation.

Potty training and tree pruning aside, it may not be entirely prudent, for example, to have a discussion with one’s partner about a potentially contentious subject the week before (and in some cases the week of) one’s period.

I wish I had learned this a little earlier in my life as a woman and a doctor.

Given that I am a female physician, one might assume that I would be well versed on the topic of premenstrual moods.  I have, in fact, known about periods and other related “girl stuff” since at least fifth grade. That year, my tweener friends and I watched “THE FILMSTRIP,” in which reproductive organs were compared (size-wise) to walnuts, and the school nurse offered advice on bras, body odor, sanitary supplies and sexuality.  We were told that moodiness was part of adolescence, and that it eventually went away.

Though I continued to learn about “girl stuff” in medical school, mood changes were not discussed in detail.  My fellow students and I listened to long lectures about the cyclical nature of estrogen, progesterone and related hormones.  We heard about post-partum depression and severe premenstrual syndrome.  We studied midlife and menopause.  When it came to hormones, we were quite familiar with extremes.

Learning about hormonal extremes (i.e. the impact of too much or not enough on the body) did not prepare me for their more mundane, everyday realities.  From breast tenderness to carbohydrate cravings to crabbiness, hormones have a very real impact on the lives of many women.

Most girls begin experiencing hormonal changes before their first periods, as the body gets ready for reproduction.  The first period, called menarche, takes place around the age of 12.  This can vary, depending on genetics, environment, race, body fat and dietary factors.  Menarche is often accompanied by moodiness.

As the school nurse mentioned, adolescent moodiness does improve.   But most females continue to have hormone-related physical, emotional and mental fluctuations until well after menopause. THIS is what I wish I had learned in fifth grade.

If you have an adolescent or pre-adolescent girl in your household, you may want to share that physical fluctuations are a fact of female existence.  The conversation could hit a few of the following high points:
~Make a habit of noting your periods on a calendar or planner.  There are also computer programs and mobile phone applications for this purpose. Sometime it can take six months to a year before periods become regular.
~If you are having symptoms such as sadness/moodiness, bloating, breast tenderness, stomach upset or abdominal cramping, write these down too.   
~If your female relatives (mother, sisters or aunts) has or had period-related symptoms, you may be more likely to have them yourself.
~Eating foods rich in calcium and magnesium, such as leafy greens, can help decrease period-related symptoms.  Try to eat these, and cruciferous vegetables such as broccoli and cauliflower, daily.  
~If your symptoms are particularly bothersome, talk to your doctor or health care provider.
~Remember that mood changes are a part of living for both men and women, but that women are especially susceptible to hormonal moods.  Many women feel unhappy or irritable in the week before or during their periods.
~If you are unhappy or irritable during this time, people may bother you more.  Try not to respond immediately if they say or do something that annoys you.  Instead, take a deep breath.  Try writing down your feelings and the circumstance that brought your feelings on. Don’t take any actions or make any decisions that you may regret.
~The week after your period, go back to what you have written.  If you are still bothered, talk to the person who made you unhappy and explain your feelings.  That way you will know that you are not simply responding based on your hormones.
~As you get more comfortable with your body and its cycles, it may be useful for you to share your awareness with the other important people in your life. This may help them understand that your moodiness is not necessarily related to something they have done.  
 ~Try not to use your period-related moodiness as an excuse to treat others poorly.  
 ~Realize that hormones are not a bad thing.  Being more sensitive can have its advantages at time.
 ~Be aware that other girls and women in your life may be more irritable or unhappy because of hormonal changes, too.  Try to be patient with them.
 ~Understand that boys and men also have hormones, and experience mood changes, though they don’t have menstrual periods every month.

Most women become comfortable with the monthly changes in their bodies over time.  Helping girls to understand this process early will enable them to be more compassionate toward themselves and others.

As far as hair cutting, tree pruning and potty training are concerned, though, it’s hard to argue with the Farmers Almanac...


Resources
KidsHealth
Mayo Clinic
TeenGrowth

MaineHealth Learning Resource Centers        1-866-609-5183

Raising Readers Recommends:

The Feelings Book by Todd Parr, Little Brown & Co (2005; ISBN: 0-316012-49-1).  Start talking with kids about feelings at an early age. According to Raising Readers, “Children express different moods, including I feel very mad, I feel like reading books all day, and I feel like wearing funny underwear” in this colorful board book.

Comments

[Truth about Abs]

Girl Stuff: Talking to Tweens about Hormones & Moods
<-- Great!

[jordan 13]

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