Trouble Time

Since women began, they have complained that they felt bloated and out of sorts in the last few days before menstruation. Physicians usually treat the problem lightly ("Mostly in the mind," many have said); not so London Drs. Iain and Pamela MacKinnon, a husband and wife team. They were impressed by recent trickles of medical evidence that women in the latter part of the menstrual cycle not only have cellular changes but are more prone at that period to commit crimes of violence and experience emotional instability. They checked 47 coroners' cases, and post-mortem examinations made it possible for them to determine at what stage of the cycle death had occurred.

Their finding, reported in last week's British Medical Journal: the entire second half of the cycle, beginning 14 days before the next period is due, is more dangerous than the first. Of 23 suicides, all but one took place in the second phase. Eight deaths listed as accidental were all in the second phase.

In one detail the MacKinnons did not support feminine folklore. The last five days of the cycle, often marked by "premenstrual blues," are dangerous but not so bad, they concluded, as the preceding week. Their recommendations: warn high-strung women and those with chronic diseases to 1) take better care of themselves, 2) get more rest during the second half of the cycle, 3) have major operations only in the first phase.

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