---
title: Why do women feel more shame about their bodies during the premenstrual phase?
description: Body shame during the premenstrual phase is linked to cultural beauty standards and how women see themselves. The more premenstrual distress a woman experienc
url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/womens-experiences-of-the-premenstrual-body-negotiating-body-shame-self-2020/
---

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- Why do women feel more shame about their bodies during the premenstrual phase?

Interview study, 2020

# Why do women feel more shame about their bodies during the premenstrual phase?

Body shame during the premenstrual phase is linked to cultural beauty standards and how women see themselves. The more premenstrual distress a woman experiences, the more body shame she tends to report.

 Moderate study design

116 women from online survey, with 8 participating in interviews

## What they did

Asked 116 women to complete a survey about premenstrual distress, body shame, and how they view their bodies. Eight women also had interviews about their experiences during the premenstrual phase.

## What they found

Women with more premenstrual distress reported more body shame and menstrual shame. Interviews showed that women internalize cultural ideas about beauty and femininity, try to conceal their premenstrual bodies, and reduce self-care activities like exercise.

## What it means for you

Premenstrual body shame comes from both physical changes and cultural messages women absorb about how their bodies should look. Helping women recognize and resist these harmful messages could reduce distress. The study mostly included women who responded online, so results may not apply to all women.

116

women surveyed

8

women interviewed

## About the study

Original title Women’s Experiences of the Premenstrual Body: Negotiating Body Shame, Self-Objectification, and Menstrual Shame Authors Samantha Ryan, Jane Maria Ussher, Janette Perz Journal Women s Reproductive Health Year 2020 Study design Interview study Participants 116 What was tested None Read the paper [doi.org/10.1080/23293691.2020.1740482](https://doi.org/10.1080/23293691.2020.1740482)

## Topics

[Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pms/)

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.

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