I came upon three studies, two on prementstruation experiences and one on the experience of menstruation. These studies examined attitudes about the two monthly phases but did not relate the experience of a woman's monthly cycle to creative behavior. These studies found, at least as it pertains to women in this culture, that premenstrual and menstrual symptoms were dependent upon a woman's expectation of her experience. In other words, if a woman expected her premenstrual phase to be difficult, it was. The study “Placing Premenstrual Syndrome in Perspective,” published in Psychology of Women Quarterly, found that PMS was mistakenly attributed to a “down period” when the symptoms were not properly indicated. The researchers felt “[s]ome of these women had a terrific other phase of their cycle which, in contrast to their neutral premenstrual phase, might make the premenstrual phase seem down. It seems likely that some of these women said they had PMS because they knew the experienced cyclicity over their menstrual cycle, and their North American culture has told them that most women experience the same pattern of menstrual cyclicity, that is PMS.”

If women experience this “neutral time” as a “down period,” in contrast to some other phase in the menstrual cycle, then their creative behavior, inspiration, and output would likewise be negatively affected. Because the researchers spoke of a “terrific other phase” that occurs within the women's cycle, it would seem logical that creative output would be greater during those terrific other phases rather than during the "neutral phases.”

The women's comments to me reflected how they experience those two phases of their menstrual cycle with regard to attitude, behavior, and creativity. In general, they supported the notion that women experience a “down period” or a “neutral period” during the premenstrual phase. Most women, not all of whom suffered pain and anxiety, possessed a clear and precise understanding of how these monthly changes affected their attitude and their work. Generally women worked despite any physical discomfort they may have been experiencing. But their view of themselves and the world was greatly influences by bodily changes. Many women expressed the following sentiments. “I am short-tempered and easily frustrated; it is harder for me to concentrate; I fight with people.” Sometimes the women experienced major shifts in symptoms of their cycle over the years. Where once they experienced no discomfort, now they did. “I get bloated; I cry a lot; I take vitamins and exercise to control my mood swings.” The reverse was true for several women. There were only a handful of women who experienced little or no alteration in their physical or emotional well-being during the premenstrual phase of their cycle.

As these comments reflect, the overall emotional tenor of the premenstrual phase was negative, and the physical discomfort noticeable. For many of these women, life perspectives and the ability to make connections are temporarily hindered. Some women were able to understand and control the negativity, knowing it would last only a few days. Other women were overwhelmed by the turmoil they felt within and barely managed to function during the day. I cannot attest with any certainty that creative behavior was not at its optimum, but I am willing to make an assumption that creative output and creative impulses were diminished during this phase. But while creative impulses may be diminished, creative behavior may really occur in an effort to maintain a “normal” level of performance. As I stated earlier in this book, creative energies can be used as a means to surviving. Just getting through the day sometimes takes enormous amounts of creative output.

(Used with kind permission by the author from her book Awakening Minerva: The Power of Creativity in Women's Lives.)