---
title: How do lesbian women experience premenstrual syndrome differently from heterosexual women?
description: Lesbian women experience similar premenstrual symptoms to heterosexual women, but their relationships are much more supportive. They can talk openly about the
url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/empathy-egalitarianism-and-emotion-work-in-the-relational-negotiation-of-pms-the-2008/
---

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- How do lesbian women experience premenstrual syndrome differently from heterosexual women?

Study, 2008

# How do lesbian women experience premenstrual syndrome differently from heterosexual women?

Lesbian women experience similar premenstrual symptoms to heterosexual women, but their relationships are much more supportive. They can talk openly about their needs, get help from their partner, and don't experience shame or rejection because of their PMS.

 Early or limited evidence

15 lesbian women with PMS and 10 of their partners

## What they did

Researchers interviewed 15 lesbian women with PMS and 10 of their partners about how they experience and manage premenstrual changes.

## What they found

Lesbian women reported premenstrual distress similar to what heterosexual women experience. However, their partners showed awareness of the changes, responsiveness to their needs, open communication, and shared responsibility for managing them. This was different from heterosexual women's accounts in published research, where women reported lack of understanding, rejection, and being made to feel their PMS was a personal flaw. Because of their partner's support, lesbian women could express their needs, take care of themselves, and avoid guilt and self-blame.

## What it means for you

How a partner responds to PMS matters greatly for how a woman experiences it. Women in supportive, communicative relationships have better emotional experiences and can take care of themselves without shame. The main limitations are that this study is small, focuses only on lesbian relationships, and is based on interviews rather than other types of research.

15

lesbian women with PMS interviewed

10

partners interviewed

## About the study

Original title Empathy, Egalitarianism and Emotion Work in the Relational Negotiation of PMS: The Experience of Women in Lesbian Relationships Authors Jane Maria Ussher, Janette Perz Journal Feminism & Psychology Year 2008 Study design Study Participants 15 Read the paper [doi.org/10.1177/0959353507084954](https://doi.org/10.1177/0959353507084954)

## Topics

[Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pms/)[Relationships and partners](https://niyora.com/research/topics/life-area-relationships/)

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