Emily Blout, a woman from Washington, D.C., has shared her experience living with premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD), a severe hormone-related mood disorder. Blout has dealt with this condition since she began menstruating at 15. At 42, she describes her experience: “For 12 to 14 days of every month, I become another person.”
During these periods, Blout’s usually upbeat personality changes. She becomes sad, angry, and unfocused. She might cry without reason, become irritable with her husband and 11-year-old twin sons, and struggle with concentration.
What Are the Symptoms of PMDD?
According to the International Association for Premenstrual Disorders (IAPD), PMDD affects approximately 1 in 20 women. Symptoms typically appear in the days leading up to menstruation and usually dissipate once menstruation starts. The symptoms result from the brain’s response to changes in estrogen and progesterone levels.
Notable symptoms include:
- Emotional and mood disruptions
- Fatigue and low energy
- Behavioral and appetite changes
- Feeling out of control
Emotional Impact
Blout often experiences intense emotional fluctuations in the two weeks before her period. She describes a powerful anger that once led to her booking an expensive separate flight home during a trip due to anger at her husband. This intense feeling lifted abruptly 24 hours later, leading to disbelief over her actions.
She also grapples with profound sadness. At times, she finds herself hysterically crying over seemingly trivial things, like a Disney movie. At other times, a more profound sadness makes getting out of bed extremely difficult, often accompanied by brain fog. Last year, this fog caused her to run a red light, resulting in a serious car accident.
Searching for Treatment
After trials with antidepressants and an antipsychotic medication due to a misdiagnosis of bipolar disorder, Blout sought further treatment about 10 months ago. She began taking Lupron (leuprolide acetate), a hormone therapy that suppresses sex hormone production. This medication has induced chemical menopause, but effectively stopped her PMDD symptoms.
“I have never understood until now what it’s like to have a regular life,” Blout stated. “Everything has changed for the better. My children have their mother back.” Blout acknowledges her children’s awareness of her struggles.
Facing Difficult Choices
Currently, Blout faces a decision between undergoing surgery to remove some reproductive organs or trying experimental treatments to prevent her symptoms from returning. Blout has explored numerous options, such as antidepressants, birth control, and therapy.
“My husband and I can’t manage this any longer,” she shared. Although she has consulted a surgeon about removing her ovaries and fallopian tubes, Blout remains determined to avoid surgery unless necessary. Concerns about potential memory problems or dementia from ovary removal before menopause contribute to her hesitation.
Blout feels as though she is in a waiting period, anticipating natural menopause. “Women with PMDD are effectively experimenting on ourselves,” Blout remarked. She notes the lack of dedicated research funding for PMDD treatment or a cure.
Contact Newsweek editors for this story: Charlotte Nisbet and James Debens.
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