Woollett's PMDD memoir opens conversation on hidden condition
Australian novelist Laura Woollett's new memoir Hell Days explores premenstrual dysphoric disorder, a condition affecting 5.5 per cent of people with menstrual cycles.
Laura Woollett, whose previous novels earned Prime Minister's Literary Award nominations, has published her first nonfiction book exploring premenstrual dysphoric disorder, a severe mood condition tied to hormonal cycles.
Hell Days weaves Woollett's own diagnosis journey with research into the history of the condition, which was only officially recognised as a psychiatric disorder in 2013. The memoir goes beyond personal story to examine the interaction between PMDD and other conditions like ADHD and autism, featuring interviews with leading researchers.
Woollett examines how the female oral contraceptive was developed and tested, linking historical medical practices to modern debates about reproductive healthcare. The book is the second major Australian memoir on PMDD published this year, signalling growing awareness of a condition that many sufferers spent decades undiagnosed.
- 5.5 per cent of menstrual cycle people
- PMDD prevalence
- 2013 as psychiatric disorder
- Official recognition
- 2019 in mid-20s
- Woollett diagnosed
- First nonfiction by Woollett
- Book type
Why it mattersPMDD affects millions but remains under-recognised by doctors and the public; memoirs like this one help people identify their own symptoms and seek proper diagnosis and treatment.
AustraliaGrowing Australian focus on PMDD through literature and research is helping reduce misdiagnosis and guiding people toward effective medical support.
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