Introduction

Being a woman should not be difficult. We fight for our rights and equality, bear children, and bleed every month – menstruation can be difficult and painful. Those difficulties can come before, during, or after menstruation, from conditions like premenstrual dysphoric disorder and premenstrual exacerbation. Thought to be interchangeable, there is a difference between PMDD and PME. Let’s take a look and understand the difference between PMDD and PME.

Understanding PMDD

PMDD is a severe medical condition that affects girls and women of reproductive age. Premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) is a condition in which a woman has severe depression symptoms, irritability, and tension before menstruation. PMDD symptoms show during the luteal phase of the menstrual cycle, and symptoms end one-two day after bleeding begins.

Additionally, PMDD symptoms can cause extreme highs and lows that cause it’s suffered to attempt suicide. PMDD symptoms are behavioral/emotional thoughts and tendencies that lead to social impairment preventing a woman from living an ordinary life. The cause of PMDD is unknown, and there also is no cure.

Understanding PME

Next, premenstrual exacerbation (PME) occurs when hormone changes during menstruation worsen the experience of a pre-existing disorder – like depressive disorder or generalized anxiety disorder. PME symptoms are mainly psychological and manifest in worsening mental health.

Similarly to PMDD, the cause of PME is unknown, and there is no cure; studies on premenstrual exacerbation are still in their infancy.

Supporting Your PMDD or PME

Although PMDD and PME both cause mood changes, they are different. However, both conditions can cause disruptions in one’s life. If you think you may have either condition, please speak with a healthcare provider immediately. Furthermore, if you have either diagnosis and are seeking a safe space to vent, find advice, or meet similar women, please join the Black Women Feel Pain Too support group.