New PMS documentary calls for volunteers

9 Dec 2006

Firecracker Films in London, makers of high profile documentaries for all the major UK channels with an emphasis on sensitive, personal films, is working on a new project looking at the debilitating effects of extreme PMS / Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder.

The documentary aims to explore what life is like for the minority of women whose PMS is so extreme that it's causing serious detriment to their working lives and their relationships at home, and inflicting almost insufferable tension, anxiety and mood-swings. What are the symptoms people are experiencing? How often and how severely? And what is the impact at home and at work? Sufferers of PMS often talk about a Jekyll and Hyde feeling in relation to their symptoms - do you relate to that? These are all questions the documentary hopes to address.
 
Treatments - from hormonal all the way to full blown hysterectomy will also be explored. In particular, what is it like as a woman who has not yet had children but whose PMS is so severe that removing the uterus or ovaries seems the best option, despite the impact on future fertility? These are not easy choices and every woman will obviously have different issues to weigh up.
 
Vicky Lesley, who works for the company, is very keen to speak to as many women as possible who suffer or have suffered with extreme PMS or PMDD about their experiences. This would be on a completely confidential and off the record basis and would be purely for research purposes - you won't be committing to anything by speaking to her. All experiences are interesting at this stage to help build up a clearer picture of the types of symptoms and treatments women are facing but she is particularly keen to speak to anyone who falls into any of the following categories.
 

• are you a woman in her early 20s who is finding it impossible to hold down a relationship because of your severe PMS/PMDD?
  
• are you suffering marriage difficulties because of PMDD?
  
• are you a single woman in her late 30s/early 40s who is still hoping for a child but whose PMDD is so severe you are considering a hysterectomy?
  
• have you had a hysterectomy to combat PMDD? did it work? are you happier or do you feel tinges of regret?

 
To participate please either contact Christine at NAPS christine@pms.org.uk or email Vicky at vicki@firecrackerfilms.com
 
Firecracker’s most recent film, My New Face, transmitted to great acclaim on Channel 4 a couple of weeks ago and profiled the work of two London-based plastic surgeons who carry out life changing facial reconstruction surgery on children from the developing world who would otherwise have no access to such treatment.