---
title: How is premenstrual syndrome presented in magazines and self-help books?
description: Women's personal stories about premenstrual symptoms are prominently used in magazines and self-help books to establish PMS as a medical disease. These storie
url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/the-problematic-of-experience-1996/
---

- [Niyora](https://niyora.com/)
- [Research](https://niyora.com/research/)
- [Library](https://niyora.com/research/library/)
- How is premenstrual syndrome presented in magazines and self-help books?

Study, 1996

# How is premenstrual syndrome presented in magazines and self-help books?

Women's personal stories about premenstrual symptoms are prominently used in magazines and self-help books to establish PMS as a medical disease. These stories reflect assumptions about what is normal for women's bodies and health.

 Early or limited evidence

Magazine articles and self-help books about premenstrual syndrome

## What they did

Researchers examined magazine articles and self-help books to see how premenstrual syndrome is presented and discussed as a medical disease.

## What they found

Women's personal accounts of premenstrual symptoms are prominently used to establish PMS as a medical disease in magazines and self-help books. The way these experiences are described reflects assumptions about women, gender, and health.

## What it means for you

Personal experiences are central to how medical conditions are understood in popular media. This raises questions about whose experiences are included and what ideas about gender are built into medical definitions. The limitation is that this examined published materials, not actual medical evidence.

## About the study

Original title THE PROBLEMATIC OF “EXPERIENCE” Authors Susan Markens Journal Gender & Society Year 1996 Study design Study What was tested None - analysis of media content about PMS Read the paper [doi.org/10.1177/089124396010001004](https://doi.org/10.1177/089124396010001004)

## Topics

[Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pms/)[Psychotherapy, counselling and education](https://niyora.com/research/topics/treatment-psychotherapy/)

Research tells you what helps on average. Niyora helps on the day it hits.

Calm down, see it another way, and decide what to say, with a PMS and PMDD app built by a doctor.

## Related studies

Systematic review, 2026

Do mindfulness and relaxation techniques help with PMS symptoms?

Randomised trial, 2025

How effective are non-hormonal treatments for severe PMS?

Systematic review, 2025

Does alcohol use affect menstrual health in teenage girls?

Systematic review, 2025

Does teaching adolescent girls about their menstrual cycle and health help reduce period pain and PMS?

Review, 2024

What are the most effective treatments for PMDD?

Review, 2023

What treatments help mental and physical health problems linked to the menstrual cycle?

Ask AI about this page

Copy prompt

ChatGPT

↗

Claude

↗

Perplexity

↗

Google AI Mode

↗

Grok

↗