History and trajectory of PMS: towards a balanced adaptation and a biosocial homeostasis

Abstract

For centuries, and still at present, the social history of premenstrual syndrome (PMS) and phenomena is entangled with the social history of gender relations. At of the turn of the 20th century there have been two main approaches to PMS: a biomedical–hormonal school which emphasizes the reproductive‐related biological aspects of PMS, and several psychosocial schools initially influenced by psychoanalytically‐oriented interpretations of phenomena. During the last several decades several feminist writers incorporated PMS, or more precisely denial of its existence, into their agenda. Currently, a biosocial approach to PMS is being shaped integrating genetic preponderance with dynamically evolving vulnerability, internal and external environments, hormonal triggers, brain–body responses and culturally‐sensitive phenomena. Hopefully exponentially accumulating facts and knowledge will overcome opinions and lead to a balanced approach to PMS and women's reproductive‐related disorders in general.