Did You Know That Men Go Through PMS Too?

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Do you think men go through PMS? “Yes”, says Chennai-based Dr. Rohini Rau. “Although men don’t have uteruses, instead of PMS (Pre-menstrual Stress) they go through IMS (Irritable Male Syndrome) This is caused when there is a drop in the Male hormone – testosterone”, she says.

Unlike women, men do not go through a specific monthly hormonal cycle. But testosterone levels can rise and fall, throughout the course of the day too.

Dr. Rohini Rau, Managing Director at TLT Center for Creative Therapy and Senior resident officer at Kauvery Hospital, Chennai

Let’s talk about this Irritable Male Syndrome

According to NCBI (National Center for Biotechnology Information), “The irritable male syndrome (IMS) is a behavioral state of nervousness, irritability, lethargy and depression that occurs in adult male mammals following withdrawal of testosterone.”

Men above 35 years of age can experience symptoms like hypersensitivity, frustration, anxiety, and anger which can be associated with biochemical changes, hormonal fluctuations, stress, and loss of libido.

A recent British study found that 26% of males they surveyed said they “experienced monthly PMS like a woman”, which is a result of Low T. Of those 26%, “56 percent said they experienced irritability, 51 percent experienced fatigue, 47 percent said they had increased cravings, and 43 percent said they were easily upset.” Believe it or not, 5% even said they experienced “menstrual cramps.”
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“So there are certain times when the hormone levels drop and there is an increase in stress levels”, Says Dr. Rohini. “These trigger a lot of mood swings, grumpiness, loss of sexual desire or frustration and general irritability. A lot of the time men are misunderstood because of this”.

Men can experience these sort unexplainable cyclical symptoms

Maybe as a woman have you noticed this in your partner. As men age, they get moodier, more irritable, and easily frustrated. The called Andropause or ‘Male Menopause’, was coined by Jed Diamond.

Irritable Male Syndrome, is the term coined by Dr.Lincoln, working at the Medical Research Council’s Human Reproductive Sciences Unit, in Edinburgh, Scotland.

Not only humans but other male mammals that have well-defined mating cycles like rams, deer, elephants, etc also experience a drop in testosterone levels in sexual symptoms, like low libido, poor sexual performance, and erectile dysfunction. Obesity and high cholesterol is one of the reasons for low testosterone. Other causes for IMS include changes in brain chemistry associated at times with a high protein and low carbohydrates, chronic stress, and unhealthy and out of balance environmental living conditions and lifestyles.

Having said this, high levels of testosterone can also produce anger and rage in men, but is rare, and common in male athletes who use anabolic steroids to increase muscle mass.

What can you do to cope?

Male irritability and anger are both contributing factors to male depression. If low testosterone affects the quality of life, hormone therapy can be tried. The treatment can help to improve the mood changes.

However, taking care of overall health is the best way to manage this. Diet, exercise, weight control, abstaining from smoking or drinking helps in the long term. Looking after one’s mental health and getting adequate sleep can help lower cortisol and stress levels.

“Be understanding, make sure to give in to your cravings, if you feel lethargic take some time off and stay in. Talk about your feelings, maybe offer him a tub of ice cream or a fun night”, suggests Dr. Rohini.

It is important to be aware of IMS and women should try and be understanding during this time as this can take a toll on relationships. “Awareness is only the beginning! You also need to take care of yourself! Start by living a healthy lifestyle”.

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Vaginal hygiene is still a taboo subject in India and it’s a fact that many women, even today, feel uncomfortable talking about vaginal issues even to their close ones or share tips on how to maintain feminine hygiene.

42% of women say they have never been taught how to look after their vaginal health

Given that it’s the most sensitive zone, we are conditioned to think that vagina is unclean and needs high maintenance to keep it clean and healthy.

The vagina is naturally a self-cleaning organ that cleans itself by producing natural secretions.

Here are some of the facts that you need to know about your vagina and its natural cleansing system.

Vagina and its Self-defensive Nature

The vagina is a tube of muscle that joins the cervix and the vaginal opening and is surrounded by the vulva (the exterior organ).

It is lined with mucous membrane and is colonized with healthy bacteria from the Lactobacillus group. Together, they keep the vagina healthy and hygienic with natural secretions and are responsible for protecting the vagina from infections.

Lactobacilli produce lactic acid and help maintain an ideal pH balance and play an important role in keeping the vagina healthy. Lactobacilli also produce hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and other substances which inhibit the growth of pathogens or unfavorable bacteria and yeast.

Do you need hygienic products to keep your vagina healthy?

It’s quite natural if you often feel the need to wash your vagina and most women use the so-called feminine hygiene products hoping to feel clean and fresh. But the vagina is self-defensive and doesn’t require any douches or cleansers to keep it healthy.

There is a range of products such as intimate washes, shaving gels, cleansers, lubricants, douches, and deodorants, available in the feminine hygiene market that claim to clean, freshen, and balance your vagina.

Do these feminine products help maintain vaginal health?

Good vaginal hygiene is key for intimate health. But it’s a myth that the vagina needs extensive cleaning with feminine hygiene products.

45% of women use soaps to clean their vagina which upsets the natural pH.

The truth is they do more harm than good and increase your risk of infections.

For instance, douches usually contain water and vinegar and other commercial products contain antiseptics and fragrances that can reduce the lactobacilli and reduce the protective effect of the discharge.

Some of the women even reported douching their vaginas developed cancer.

Any kind of harsh chemicals introduced to the vagina may damage the mucus of the vagina and upset the delicate balance of bacteria giving a chance to the pathogens to cause vaginal infections.

The mucous membrane that lines the vagina is also very porous which makes the vagina an efficient route for absorbing medication and pathogens. It could be a risk factor for bacterial vaginosis or even the potentially deadly toxic shock syndrome.

Final thoughts

Experts advise the women to avoid any feminine hygienic products like perfumed soaps, gels, and wipes as these can affect the healthy balance of bacteria and pH levels in the vagina and allow the growth of bacteria and yeast.

Instead, warm water and some unperfumed soaps are recommended for cleaning your vagina effectively.

The vagina is naturally designed to keep itself clean with natural secretions and is self-defensive and doesn’t need any internal washing or douching or steaming.

The best way to maintain a clean and healthy vagina is just to leave it alone.