The question of "Why are women emotionally unstable during their period?" is one that many people, particularly men, might ask when they experience or observe mood swings in their partners. The main intention behind this question might be: "It can't just be my girlfriend, right? This must be something many women go through, but why does this happen?"

If that’s the case, then the answer is yes. It is indeed very common for women to experience such emotional fluctuations, which is known as Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS).

To be more precise, PMS usually occurs from about 5 days before menstruation until 2-3 days after the start of menstruation—a span of around one week—during which a woman might experience significant fluctuations in mood, emotions, and feelings.

According to statistics, PMS has more than 150 symptoms. The “irritability” mentioned by the questioner is just one of these. Other common symptoms include: anxiety, sadness, depression, increased appetite, heightened sensitivity, lack of interest, and so on. Some women even experience physical discomfort, such as dizziness, fatigue, or breast tenderness.

If you have enough women in your circle, you will notice that each woman experiences a different combination of these symptoms.

The PMS rate is high, as individuals vary in their sensitivity to emotional changes. However, it's estimated that less than 10% of women do not experience any symptoms of PMS. This means that more than 90% of women have at least some form of this experience. The difference lies not in whether these symptoms occur, but rather in the types of symptoms and their severity.

The Link Between Menstruation and Emotional Instability

The relationship between a woman's emotions and her menstrual cycle has been a topic of confusion and speculation for centuries. For example, Hippocrates, the father of Western medicine, believed that women experienced anxiety and discomfort before menstruation, which he theorized was released from the brain through the uterus via the bloodstream.

Interestingly, the term "hysteria" is derived from the Latin word hysteria, which comes from the Greek word hystera, meaning uterus. It was once believed that this emotional disturbance was caused by disturbances in the uterus.

So why does PMS happen? The most reliable answer is that the exact cause is not fully understood. Medicine has not yet definitively explained the phenomenon. There are numerous hypotheses about the causes of PMS, such as changes in ovarian hormones, neurotransmitters in the brain, prostaglandins, or psychosocial factors. However, each theory can only partially explain the symptoms, and no single theory offers a complete explanation.

In fact, the specific cause is less important for the general public; what's more critical is recognizing that this phenomenon exists and understanding how it can be managed.

How Menstruation Affects Emotions Beyond PMS

What we've discussed so far concerns the normal menstrual cycle. However, emotional fluctuations also happen during the peri-menopausal and post-menopausal stages, and similarly during pregnancy.

The time leading up to the end of menstruation is called the perimenopausal period, also known as menopause, during which women often experience significant emotional changes. This is part of the widely recognized menopausal symptoms.

In addition to menopause, another period when menstruation ceases is pregnancy. Many women experience postpartum depression after childbirth, but pregnancy itself can also trigger depression and anxiety. In fact, the level of anxiety and depression during pregnancy is often as severe, if not more, than in the postpartum period. This is especially true for first-time mothers, although many are unaware of the emotional challenges they may face.

Emotional Fluctuations Can Also Affect Menstrual Cycles

Interestingly, the relationship between menstruation and emotions is bidirectional. While emotions can be influenced by the menstrual cycle, emotions themselves can also affect the menstrual cycle.

Many people have experienced changes in their menstrual cycle due to stress, anxiety, or sudden changes in lifestyle. In some cases, this can even lead to amenorrhea (absence of menstruation). If checked, there may be no hormonal abnormalities present—just the emotional changes are enough to disrupt the cycle.

Coping with Emotional and Menstrual Fluctuations

The connection between a woman’s emotions and menstruation is incredibly close. However, it is important to understand how to manage these fluctuations.

For women, self-psychological adjustment is crucial. If menstrual abnormalities occur due to emotional stress, there’s no need to panic. With proper lifestyle changes, the menstrual cycle may return to normal. However, if significant emotional changes occur prior to menstruation, it may lead to premenstrual anxiety disorder, which can severely impact daily life. In such cases, seeking medical advice or psychological help is essential. It is worth noting that this severe form of PMS is not uncommon, and statistics show that it could affect as many as 5% of women, though it is often overlooked.

For men, understanding and support are key. While not every woman’s PMS symptoms are obvious, during special periods such as pregnancy or menopause, these emotional changes can become much more apparent, and women may seem like entirely different people. During these times, men should understand that these emotional fluctuations related to menstruation are not something the woman can easily control.