Why PMDD Isn’t “Just PMS”: A Deep Dive with Dr. Tory Eisenlohr‑Moul

Welcome back to season 4 of Women’s Health Interrupted! On this episode we speak with Dr. Tory Eisenlohr‑Moul, Associate Professor of Psychiatry and Psychology at the University of Illinois Chicago College of Medicine and a leading expert in premenstrual and hormone‑sensitive mood disorders. Dr. Eisenlohr‑Moul breaks down what PMDD actually is — why it’s not a simple one‑to‑one disorder, how timing and ovulation shape symptoms, and why current diagnostic criteria miss so many people. She explains how hormone sensitivity drives the dramatic shifts across the menstrual cycle and what emerging evidence suggests about how PMDD should be diagnosed. We also zoom out to the bigger picture: why sex differences matter in science, how menstrual‑cycle research has been historically overlooked, and what it will take to build treatments that truly reflect lived experience. Host: Dr. Liisa Galea Editor: Dr. Andrew McGovern Producer: Dr. Andrew McGovern Marketing: Felicia Gisondi Music by Dr. Andrew McGovern New episodes of Women’s Health Interrupted will be available every Wednesday. Please rate, review, and subscribe to our podcast wherever you find your podcasts. Learn more about the Women's Health Research Cluster on their website: https://womenshealthresearchcluster.com/