The relationship between the menstrual cycle and women's cognitive and emotional state has fascinated scientists for over a century. Anne Walker shows that women are neither the victims of raging hormonal fluctuations, nor entirely unaffected by them. Unlike most previous publications that focus on menstruation (rather than the whole cycle), the "Menstrual Cycle" presents a well-researched study of the entire menstrual cycle and its relationship to women's lives.
Anne Walker critically examines previous work on menstruation, the cycle, and women's psychological state, and sets it in its historical and socio-cultural context. She concludes that menstrual cycle research is entering a new phase of development, with a shift towards a growing concern with women's experiences and the meaning of menstruation in the social sciences, reflecting a change in the way that psychology and sociology conceptualize the body.

Anne Walker shows that women are neither the victims of raging hormonal fluctuations nor entirely unaffected by them. Unlike most previous publications that focus on menstruation (a part of the cycle), The Menstrual Cycle presents a well researched study of the entire menstrual cycle and its relationship to women's lives.
Women's own experiences in different cultures are contrasted with medical textbook descriptions and the "normal" is found to be rather elusive.
This book will be read by discourse analysts, doctors, nurses and any woman who has felt curious about her menstrual cycle and its possible effects.