THE RED ZONE

An essayist discusses menstrual dysfunctions in the context of sexual identity, family, and love.

Caldwell’s periods dominated her young adult life. She had heavy, clotted menstrual flows and hormonal acne. As she matured, her symptoms worsened. “Something wasn’t right. Since I’d gotten into my thirties, my periods had become more severe,” she writes. “Why was it heightened? Why was I afraid of it? It was affecting my relationships and my ability to socialize….This didn’t feel like just PMS. It felt different. Dangerous.” Consequently, Caldwell began a frantic search for answers anywhere she could find them. In her second memoir, following I’ll Tell You in Person, Caldwell sets down her journey of discovery. Interviewing female family members and friends, she learned not only about their experiences, but also about the evolution of feminine hygiene products, like sanitary bloomers, sanitary belts, and period protective underwear. Turning to Reddit, the author took comfort in the often hilarious rants of fellow PMS sufferers before trying antidepressants to ease what she realized was premenstrual dysphoric disorder, an extreme form of PMS. Tracking her cycles through online apps helped her predict when she would have the “werewolf” outbursts that strained her relationships with her boyfriend and his young daughter. Yet as much as PMDD often hijacked her life, coming to terms with it within the confines of a loving relationship ultimately strengthened the “connection” she was initially afraid to pursue. Caldwell’s candor about all things menstrual is the greatest strength of this dynamic book. While the graphic physical depictions of menstrual dysfunction many not appeal to all readers, women who suffer from PMDD will take solace in the ups and downs of Caldwell’s journey toward self-acceptance, health, and love. The narrative may also appeal to anyone who suffers frustration and anger in the face of an illness for which they struggle to get an accurate diagnosis, a situation that disproportionately affects women.

Provocatively intimate reading.