Do you think your girlfriend has a hormonal imbalance? Never ask these three questions

Chemicals like estrogen and testosterone have a profound effect on human behavior and mood. Particularly around puberty and during adolescence, changes in body chemistry can affect the way adolescents interact with their peers, contributing to insecurity, aggression, and romantic attraction. The human brain is still influenced by many of the same chemicals during adulthood, but maturity and a modicum of thoughtfulness can help prevent those natural chemicals from negatively affecting relationships.

The best known cause of hormonal imbalance and fluctuation is premenstrual syndrome or PMS. Occurring between a woman’s ovulation and her period, PMS tends to be portrayed in the entertainment media as a period of erratic behavior and unpredictable mood swings. Men’s groups can quickly dismiss a woman’s emotional behavior as related to body chemistry. As anyone who has ever had a girlfriend can attest, PMS is no laughing matter when your partner awaits a monthly visit from “Aunt Flo.” To preserve your relationship, avoid the following questions when you think your girlfriend is going through a period of hormonal imbalance.

Is it that time of the month?

Some questions should never be asked directly. Asking if it’s “that time of the month” is particularly dangerous when interrupting an emotional outburst or tense conversation. Even if the emotional outburst is fueled by your monthly cycle, the question completely eludes any attempt to broach the real topic of conversation. If he’s running at you with a knife because the toilet seat was left up for the umpteenth time, he may really care about the courtesy of leaving the toilet seat.

Not a little young for menopause?

Similar to the idea of ​​questions not to be asked directly, many successful grooms find it best to avoid talking about aging, particularly how it might affect their girlfriend’s body. Women are bombarded by advertisements for anti-aging treatments and procedures. With parents and grandparents eager to have more offspring to pamper, most young women are acutely aware of the limited time their bodies allow for childbirth. There is something to be said about black humor that allows everyone to take their own mortality lightly. However, men are not in a position to commit the injustice of menopause because they can often continue to father children well into their uncomfortable geriatric age.

Why can’t you be more like one of the guys?

To borrow a phrase from the elementary school yard, “If you love boys so much, why don’t you marry them?” Men and women may find it easier to understand and relate to their long-time friends. Dealing with someone of the opposite sex is one of the biggest challenges in a monogamous heterosexual relationship. The potential for hormonal imbalance is just one of many mysterious factors that lead to miscommunication, misunderstandings, and conflict in a relationship. If the challenge of dealing with the opposite sex is not worth it, then we are fortunate to live in an age where you can choose to date “one of the guys.”

Ultimately, each individual is different and most people change over time. Avoiding stupid questions is one way to protect your relationship from being negatively affected by hormonal imbalance.