i've been wondering something. lately about every 28 to 30 days i get to feeling so irratable all over and at times extremely bitchy. do we as trans women have hormonal cycles? do any of you? is this all just in my head or am i a freak or something. i know these feelings i get are real, is the estradiol changing me that much?

It's been documented that "most" of what is considered pms is psychological.
That is to say, women become irritable and "bitchy" during "that time of the month" more because it's socially expected of them, not because of the physical hormonal imbalance.
Perhaps you're experiencing the same as most GG do.

Quote from: Miniar on May 26, 2009, 08:35:09 AM
It's been documented that "most" of what is considered pms is psychological.

Where? I never heard of that.

Quote from: Nero on May 26, 2009, 08:40:16 AM
Where? I never heard of that.

Don't remember exactly where I read it, I'm not sure, but it might have been in illustrated science.

Dragged up a little info..
From Psychology today;
"When I looked at the actual patterns of the women who said they had PMS, there was no association with mood and cycle," Harding reports. They were as likely to say they thought they had PMS whether they showed postmenstrual change, occasional menstrual change, or no change at all. "It's as if this label allows them a socially sanctioned time of month to be irritable."

One more thing..
Yes, PMS exists.
Yes, there's even PMDD which is PMS so severe that it interferes with your ability to keep up with daily life.

But Majority of women do not have any syndrome nor disorder but the "cultural" PMS, as per the quote I offered.

I experience something similar and I have been looking for info on this off and on for years and only recently found anything.

Males do get something similar to P.M.S., it's called I.M.S. (Irritable Male Syndrome, yes it's a stupid name). while it has been around a while, information is scarce on it, and what you fill find is open to wide interpretation.

Unfortunately, it doesn't match what I experience every month.

Do I cycle,  as my ex's did?  An unofficial review is for me, Hell Yes.  Even my girlfriends have noticed.  "Hey Janet, is it your time?"

Sounds sexist, but I have been tracking it for myself.   And about the first of the month, I get really bitchy, gain water weight and in general become a...... Well I remember a poster I once saw.  "I have PMS and a gun... Any Damn Questions?" 

Even my ex asks if it my time.  And really, even thought I am a raging Bi**h, I would not traded it.  Well except if I could really have Aunt Flo, visit.  Ok I am strange.

Janet

Janet your not strange i feel the same way. even though i get bitchy and irraitable i would not trade it.

one of the things i feel cheated out of is the ability to bear children, and with that the flow. but i don't/can't so i just keep moving forward in my transition. be it slowly or fast i keep looking forward.

I used to predict when my ex would have her period based on when my ankles would swell up. She didn't believe me until she realized my predictions were more accurate than hers.

I think it is mostly psychological and your view of the world and expectations can have an impact on biology.

With that said I have had:
after transition coworkers confided that they noticed a definite cycle with me (IOW, sometimes I was a real bitch)
staying with friends for a bit one night the husband remarked, "Great two women in the house with PMS." (IOW, I was being a real bitch that night)

My own bloodwork has revealed that, for the most part, my hormones remain steady no matter what time of the month it may be.