Challenging the Medicalization of Womens Bodies - Article Example

? Challenging the medicalization of women’s bodies of Introduction Medicalization refers to the procedure by which human circumstances and problems come to be defined and treated as medicinal conditions. Medicalization involves medical study, diagnosis, prevention and treatment. It is motivated by new substantiation or hypotheses about situations. It ensures change of social attitudes or economic considerations (Blake, 2005). It is imperative to note that, medicalization is studied from the social perspective as a role and power of professional, patients and corporations in relation to the implications caused on the ordinary people. Sociologists first devised the concept of medicalization to explain hoe knowledge is applied to behavioral changes, which are not directly linked with self-evidenced medical or biological conditions (Blake, 2005). This concept gained momentum in 1970s when feminists groups argued that the predominantly male professionals were medicalizing women’s bodies. It is significant to note that, menstruation and pregnancy appeared a medical problem that required interventions such as hysterectomies. However, several decades later on the definition of medicalization got complicated. The term remains widely used particularly in medical and pharmaceutical sections. It is vital to note that, the medical industrial complex has been positively correlated with the gender-based oppression and pathology through institutionalization and denial of self-determination of identity and more significantly gender or sex (Blake, 2005). The current diagnosis and controversy surrounding the gender identity Disorder as diagnosis in the DSM will be considered in this study as a fundamental feminist lifespan perspective, which result to politics of personality disorders. It is imperative to note that, the principal disorder that has elicited sharp differences and initiation of activism is the menstruation cycle among the women. To answer the question on whether the PMDD belongs in PMS, a detailed study on the significance, problems and suppression of the menstrual cycle, how the cycle works and problems attributed to this cycle are examined. Significance of menstruation Menstrual sequence is one of the major significant biological differences amid females and males. It is has been used in numerous contexts to substantiate prejudice against women and girls. Clear understanding of the biological and social connotation of the menstrual cycle for women and men compels vivid understanding of the fundamental arrangements of human society, which encompasses the social-economic and political pattern (Fink, 2007). Challenging the shame and mystery surrounding the menstrual cycle, encourages personified consciousness, or a more consequential and multifarious appreciation of bodies across the lifespan. Interdisciplinary menstrual cycle research, particularly studies that investigate the psychosocial scope of menstruation in sundry cultural settings, is an emerging subfield. It is notable that, some menstrual cycle researchers refer to “menstruators” as a replacement for women when referring to those who menstruate (Maddux & Nourse, 2007). This linguistic choice locates menstruation past the precincts of gender as socially constructed and expresses camaraderie with women who do not menstruate due to sickness, epoch or some facet of their functioning and transgender men and gender perplexing persons who do, in spite of their sex identity. Refusing to presuppose who does and does not menstruate is one means of challenging the inflexible gender dual that perpetuates privilege and oppression. How the menstrual cycle functions Majority of the menstrual cycles last for 21-35 days but changeability is common after the first period (menarche) and also before menopause. A unique egg and its surrounding cells create each menstrual cycle. The cells produce hormones under cautious feedback control by the brain and pituitary hormones. Normally the menstrual cycle begins with two to six days of blood loss from the vaginal (called a “period” or “flow”) as the uterine lining sheds. Complete period blood loss averages eight soaked regular menstrual products (40 ml) (Weideger, 2006). Despite of cultural concepts of regularity pattern, a third of women, have a period two weeks early or late at least once a year. From low levels during flow, estrogen rises to a mid-cycle peak over 9-20 days. Next, a pituitary Luteinizing Hormone (LH) peak triggers ovulation consequently the release of an egg .Following ovulation, progesterone production rises precipitously while estrogen decreases austerely until both decreases at the next flow. During menstruation women experience diverse attitudes and representations. Menstruation is significantly biological reality, which is culturally bound and defined by the encrypt values consequently its management. It is imperative to observe that, these diverse cultures perceive women menstruation differently, for instance the traditional aspects view the menarche as the beginning of differentiation between men and women (Maddux $ Nourse, 2005). On the other hand, the modern culture and world reserve unique respect and privilege for menstruating women. Majorly menstruation is represented in the contemporary advertising venues as the most coupled with dominant and recurring themes of secrecy and silence encrypted in restricted physical and social activity. Additionally, the drugs marketed for menstrual discomfort represents a hygienic crisis. Menstruation can be managed through menstrual care, which involves the use of mainstream menstrual products such as commercial pads and tampons. These products are made of pesticide treated cotton and rayon (wood pulp (Guernsey, 2005)). More over cycle stopping contraception, which suppresses menstrual cycle, can be used. Both traditional and hormonal contraceptives are used to alter the endometrial and cervical changes for fertility. They take up to 28 days to stop the ovarian cycling. Problems attributed to the menstrual cycle Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS) PMS refers to the repetitive occurrence of behavioral, corporeal, and mood symptoms rigorous enough to influence a woman’s social, economic and political functioning during the premenstrual and post-ovulatory phase of the menstrual cycle (Fink, 2007). Evidence-based treatment for moderately severe PMS includes a blend of personal and environmental tension management, dietary consciousness, nutritional supplements, and body exercise. Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder (PMDD) This refers to a severe form of PMS affecting less than 8% of menstruating women. It may be a cyclic form of depression. PMDD is a conventional diagnosis by the U.S. Food & Drug Supervision that has permitted newer antidepressants for its treatment (Figert, 2006). The International Classification of Diseases as a standard disease diagnosis does not accept it. Critics argue that, tagging women with PMS and PMDD individualizes troubles as purely psychological. It is noteworthy that, the critics eventually assert that, these labels conceal the peripheral sources of indication appearance that arise from a horde of situations, such as traumatic work environments, social affairs, poverty and living in insecure neighborhoods (Dalton & Green, 2003). Other menstrual cycle concerns include cramps, anovulatory androgen excess, irregular menstrual products and heavy flow. These problems occur in a lesser percentage of women. Does PMDD belong in DMS? Upon studying the standards and guidelines of PMDD and DMS, PMDD does not belong to DSM. It is noticeable that, PMDD is argued as a more communally constructed diagnosis somewhat than psychiatric disarray. The distinction between physiological experiences and pathology is investigated. It is critical to note that the PMDD is recognized in the present Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of the American Psychiatric Association (DMS) as a severe form of premenstrual distress (Cosgrove & Riddle, 2003). Researchers advocate for insightful research on PMDD to answer the controversy that surrounds the utility and validity of the diagnostic category. It is imperative to note that PMDD represents a continuation of women medicalization experiences of their bodies. The concept of medicalization of women’s experiences of their bodies is adversely influenced by the PMDD (Byers, 2008). The continued pathologizing of the menstrual cycle related changes are attributable to PMDD. It is imperative to note that, the changes associated with the menstrual cycle are real. Some of them include, bloating, mass gain, breast softness and inflammation, sleep turbulence and appetite changes. PMDD is reported to be problematic in its course of diagnosis consequently occurrence of medicalization of women’s experiences of the menstrual cycle and not the cycle related changes themselves (Blumental & Nadelson, 2008). It is critical to note that women’s prejudiced experiences of the menstrual cycle- associated change have been discriminated or negated. In addition, the scope has been widened to political intrigues, where women are discriminated. The debate on premenstrual- related effects continues to elicit diverse opinions on the inability of research to find significant genetic diversity in women who experience premenstrual features that differentiate them from women who do not. For instance, (Blake, 2005) indicates that no constant endocrinological model has been recognized for women presenting with PMS, which can differentiate them. The PMDD Diagnostic criteria uses The DSM as a model to accomplish supplementary studies by creating a unified research base from, which a disorder can be well understood. The biggest challenge facing PMDD is the level of Comorbidity (Beausang & Razor, 200). The PMDD diagnosis process remains complicated, particularly when carrying it out on women with historical indication so mood, personality, substance abuse, exacerbated symptoms and anxiety disorders. PMMD can only be diagnosed when other disorders are not present; however, the question remains how frequent does PMDD occur alone? (Action Alliance, 1975). Another challenge facing PMDD is the element of impairment function. The DSM outlines that, for PMDD to be diagnosed, there should be a clear indication of interference in the woman’s regular behavior, which include normal social relations, place of work and areas of study. It is noteworthy, that is assumption of impairment is implicit when symptoms are rated as relentless (Abuduhamid, 2001). In conclusion, PMDD does not belong to DSM, due to limited functionality in the diagnosis process. Additionally, it is evident that, the PMDD is the recent discourse in the continued medicalization of women’s experiences of their bodies. This due to its pathologizing element of the menstrual cycle related changes. References Abdulhamid, A. (2001). Menstruation. London: Saqi. Action Alliance. (1975). Menstruation. New Canaan, Conn: Tobey Pub. Co. Beausang, C, & Razor, A. (2000). Youthful western women's experiences of menarche and menstruation. Health Care for Women International, 2/, 517-528. Blake, F. (2005). Cognitive therapy for premenstrual syndrome. Cognitive and Behavioral Practice, 2, 167-185. Blumenthal, S., & Nadelson, C. (2008). Late luteal phase dysphoric disorder (premenstrual syndromes): Clinical implications. 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