New Study Confirms Something Women Have Known All Along: PMS Is Real

You know the headaches, bloating, mood swings, and acne you get before your period arrives every month? According to a new study, they're not just a figment of your imagination — and your doctor should take them seriously.

The Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists recently updated its guidelines for healthcare professionals on premenstrual syndrome (PMS) to reflect the fact that four in ten women experience PMS symptoms, which range from physical to psychological.

The guidelines were released literally two days after Slate published a piece (written by a dude) that suggested PMS is just a "problematic ... cultural syndrome" that's all in women's heads.

Au contraire, said RCOG's experts:

"PMS can be a serious condition which can dramatically impact on the quality of a woman’s life affecting her personal and professional life, therefore it is essential that an integrated holistic approach to treatment is adopted," said Shaughn O’Brien, Professor of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at Keele University and lead author of the guidelines, in a press release. 

The study also found that five to eight percent of women suffer from severe PMS symptoms, and some of them will need "more complex care provided by a team of (general practitioners), gynaecologists, psychiatrists and dieticians" to treat said symptoms.

If not treated, extreme cases of PMS "can lead to self-harm and suicide" and therefore should be taken seriously, the press release continued.

Said O'Brien: "We hope that these guidelines go some way in raising awareness of the seriousness of the condition and available treatment options, not only in women but also among healthcare professionals."

Amen to that.