Can health education help to disperse the 'menstrual blues'?

Abstract

PREVIOUS research on the psychological concomitants of menstrual distress is critically evaluated. This research is criticised for methodological issues, statistical naivety, and for non-standardisation of the measurement of psychological parameters. The measurement and definition of menstrual terms is criticised for its subjectivity, and more objective measurements are proposed to describe menstrual bleeding patterns. It is found that, despite the many weaknesses in this research, there is evidence to suggest that women are responding to social expectations. This evidence is briefly outlined. It is proposed that, as the problem appears widespread, a campaign to modify expectations about menstruation would be valuable. The available findings about the problems encountered and about the sources and quality of information on menstruation are dis cussed. It is concluded that an intervention study, incorporating more objective measurements, could be an effective method of testing the role of expecta tions on the incidence and intensity of the 'menstrual blues.'