«Irritable Male Syndrome»: how to recognize and deal with the male equivalent of PMS

Many women have always suspected this and some studies seem to confirm it: even men can cyclically manifest it symptoms similar to those of “premenstrual syndrome”. The phenomenon, called Irritable Male Syndrome (IMS) is the result of numerous researches conducted over several years, which involved biologists, andrologists and psychologists.
The research biologist coined the definition Gerald Lincoln, while he was struggling with some studies for the development of a new male contraceptive. Lincoln sought to lower testosterone levels in some male mammal specimens to prevent pregnancy in female specimens. The experiments did not give positive results, on the other hand Lincoln found an atypical phenomenon that he called precisely Irritable Male Syndrome and who described how “a behavioral state of nervousness, irritability, lethargy and depression that occurs in adult male mammals after the lowering of testosterone levels “. Obviously, Lincoln could not have confirmed the extension of the phenomenon to humans, although he suspected it.

To confirm this, however, in more recent years, Jed Diamondpsychotherapist and author of the book The Irritable Male Syndromein which he illustrates symptoms and scientific reasons attesting to the presence of a hormonal cyclical phase in men, which would affect mood and energy, exactly as occurs during female PMS.

“Men undergo hormonal changes throughout their lives, just like women”explains Diamond. “Although I started by studying hormonal changes in middle-aged men, I found that hormones such as testosterone can fluctuate every hour, every day, with the seasons and with age “he specifies.
According to Diamond, the IMS would therefore consist of a state of hypersensitivity, anxiety, frustration and anger associated with some biochemical changes, hormonal fluctuations, the level of stress. “The word ‘hormonal’ has always been associated with women. The notion that it can be associated with men seems like a joke. But this is the truth, science says: men have hormonal cycles as well as women. Testosterone levels, for example, are high in the morning and lower at night “.

To confirm this are the men themselves: according to what emerged from a survey conducted by the British site Vouchercloud.com26% of the 2,412 men interviewed would be somehow convinced that they suffer, every month, from symptoms similar to those of the female cycle and more precisely of: irritability (56%), fatigue (51%), increased appetite ( 47%), hypersensitivity (43%), upset (43%).

But is it possible to manage and, in some way, limit the mood swings and irritability characteristic of this monthly phenomenon, especially if it is mostly the serenity and understanding of the couple that pays for it?

In his book What make love last? How to Built Trust and Avoid Betrayal (What makes love last? How to build trust and avoid betrayal), John Gottman, one of the leading experts in couple relationships, suggests the six strategies that anyone (man or woman) can implement to manage moodiness and irritability within a relationship. Take a cue!