Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder in higher education: exploring the impact of menstrual mental health on academic professionals

Menstrual health is public health and a human rights issue. Women make up 50% of the world’s population, of which, nearly 26% menstruate. On any given day, about 300 million women menstruate worldwide. Over 90% of menstruators experience some grade of PMS (premenstrual symptoms) like bloating, cramps, migraines, dizziness and moodiness. About 10% of these women experience a more severe form of PMS known as Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder (PMDD) and/or Premenstrual Exacerbation (PME) of existing conditions. The current study aims to explore the impact of PMDD on women and people assigned female at birth, in higher education.