Kindle
$13.99
Available instantly
Audible Logo Audiobook
$0.00
with membership trial
Hardcover
$24.24
Paperback
$18.99
Buy new:
-10% $24.24
FREE delivery Sunday, May 19 on orders shipped by Amazon over $35
Ships from: Amazon.com
Sold by: Amazon.com
$24.24 with 10 percent savings
List Price: $26.99

The List Price is the suggested retail price of a new product as provided by a manufacturer, supplier, or seller. Except for books, Amazon will display a List Price if the product was purchased by customers on Amazon or offered by other retailers at or above the List Price in at least the past 90 days. List prices may not necessarily reflect the product's prevailing market price.
Learn more
Get Fast, Free Shipping with Amazon Prime FREE Returns
FREE delivery Sunday, May 19 on orders shipped by Amazon over $35
Or fastest delivery Saturday, May 18. Order within 6 hrs 22 mins
In Stock
$$24.24 () Includes selected options. Includes initial monthly payment and selected options. Details
Price
Subtotal
$$24.24
Subtotal
Initial payment breakdown
Shipping cost, delivery date, and order total (including tax) shown at checkout.
Ships from
Amazon.com
Ships from
Amazon.com
Sold by
Amazon.com
Sold by
Amazon.com
Returns
30-day easy returns
30-day easy returns
This item can be returned in its original condition for a full refund or replacement within 30 days of receipt.
Read full return policy
Returns
30-day easy returns
This item can be returned in its original condition for a full refund or replacement within 30 days of receipt.
Read full return policy
Payment
Secure transaction
Your transaction is secure
We work hard to protect your security and privacy. Our payment security system encrypts your information during transmission. We don’t share your credit card details with third-party sellers, and we don’t sell your information to others. Learn more
Payment
Secure transaction
We work hard to protect your security and privacy. Our payment security system encrypts your information during transmission. We don’t share your credit card details with third-party sellers, and we don’t sell your information to others. Learn more
$17.69
Unread copy in mint condition Unread copy in mint condition See less
$3.99 delivery May 23 - 31. Details
In stock
$$24.24 () Includes selected options. Includes initial monthly payment and selected options. Details
Price
Subtotal
$$24.24
Subtotal
Initial payment breakdown
Shipping cost, delivery date, and order total (including tax) shown at checkout.
Access codes and supplements are not guaranteed with used items.
Ships from and sold by indoobestsellers.
Kindle app logo image

Download the free Kindle app and start reading Kindle books instantly on your smartphone, tablet, or computer - no Kindle device required.

Read instantly on your browser with Kindle for Web.

Using your mobile phone camera - scan the code below and download the Kindle app.

QR code to download the Kindle App

Follow the author

Shalene Gupta
+ Follow
More books from this author
Something went wrong. Please try your request again later.

The Cycle: Confronting the Pain of Periods and PMDD Hardcover – February 27, 2024

by Shalene Gupta (Author)
4.7 4.7 out of 5 stars 23 ratings
See all formats and editions
{"desktop_buybox_group_1":[{"displayPrice":"$24.24","priceAmount":24.24,"currencySymbol":"$","integerValue":"24","decimalSeparator":".","fractionalValue":"24","symbolPosition":"left","hasSpace":false,"showFractionalPartIfEmpty":true,"offerListingId":"d%2FN%2F1L8R1F5ecb%2FTUT68bDdOluCMNgYQT8KVuhakcuLccJTbG12Esd9O%2BYxf%2BTttU4coNZyXDn3cBDRkJz72Z8%2B5h8QcpYrDnlVS%2BqPJOmzQ%2FsBBK48amXf%2FXffQslkA8rko85RTbb6HwQpzckFMBQ%3D%3D","locale":"en-US","buyingOptionType":"NEW","aapiBuyingOptionIndex":0}, {"displayPrice":"$17.69","priceAmount":17.69,"currencySymbol":"$","integerValue":"17","decimalSeparator":".","fractionalValue":"69","symbolPosition":"left","hasSpace":false,"showFractionalPartIfEmpty":true,"offerListingId":"d%2FN%2F1L8R1F5ecb%2FTUT68bDdOluCMNgYQeElY9Yqr0JCaFEhr5ssa0fVnULizG%2B1ZSP44cWMHiEMipEZrAVl2oNTWmSPrs0GE0ru4mwvixMfVR8kkAdnLtEOUqejoc9uEqZNssGG0U8NC2w2aLFO7fr7zVvxknqSJsq0hDRzsqCsoPX6LiJjJQw%3D%3D","locale":"en-US","buyingOptionType":"USED","aapiBuyingOptionIndex":1}]}

Purchase options and add-ons

A groundbreaking exploration of a debilitating disorder that’s underdiagnosed and misunderstood.

Most days, Shalene Gupta was the person she’d always aspired to be. She was hardworking, excelled at work, and had a long-term boyfriend who she desperately loved.

Then, every month like clockwork, it all came crashing down in fits of rage and inconsolable sorrow. Work became meaningless, and she struggled to get through the day. The lows were subterranean.

After years of struggling to get an answer from doctors, Shalene learned she was one of millions who live with premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD), a severe form of PMS. The physical and mental effects of this disorder are undeniable, but for decades some doctors didn’t even consider PMDD a real condition. How could so many people be suffering at the hands of a chronic condition that doesn’t even exist?

The Cycle uncovers a hidden epidemic, delivering the definitive portrait of a widespread chronic illness most people haven’t even heard of. From a historical overview of feminist debates, to on-the-ground interviews and a searing critique of menstrual stigma, Shalene Gupta lays out how disregard for this disorder has left too many people scrambling for appropriate healthcare. Deeply researched, movingly intimate, and refreshingly hopeful, this book is essential reading for any curious reader, especially those navigating a world ill-equipped to support their health.

Read more Read less
Previous page
  1. Print length
    240 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    Flatiron Books
  4. Publication date
    February 27, 2024
  5. Dimensions
    5.62 x 0.88 x 8.56 inches
  6. ISBN-10
    1250882893
  7. ISBN-13
    978-1250882899
  8. See all details
Next page
The Amazon Book Review
The Amazon Book Review
Book recommendations, author interviews, editors' picks, and more. Read it now.

Frequently bought together

The Cycle: Confronting the Pain of Periods and PMDD
$24.24
Get it as soon as Sunday, May 19
In Stock
Ships from and sold by Amazon.com.
+
The PMDD Phenomenon: Breakthrough Treatments for Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder (PMDD) and Extreme Premenstrual Syndrome
$18.19
Usually ships within 2 to 3 days
Ships from and sold by Amazon.com.
+
PMDD: A Handbook for Partners
$12.99
Get it as soon as Monday, May 20
In Stock
Ships from and sold by Amazon.com.
Total price:
To see our price, add these items to your cart.
Details
Added to Cart
Some of these items ship sooner than the others.
Show details Hide details
Choose items to buy together.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Shalene Gupta deftly blends her own personal experiences with a meticulously researched history of how the medical establishment has understood (or failed to understand) PMDD through the years. An unflinching exploration of the stigma surrounding periods and mental health, and how we need far more support, research, and treatment options for conditions like PMDD that affect both."
― Karen Tang, MD, MPH, author of It's Not Hysteria

"As someone who also suffers from PMDD, I found that Gupta offers crucial information on this too often misunderstood and misdiagnosed medical condition. The Cycle reaffirms how critical it is to believe women and center the stories of women of color. Her book gives us permission to talk about having PMDD and the pain in our lives."
― Anushay Hossain, author of The Pain Gap

“A brilliant, deeply researched book about living with premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) ― something that too often is experienced as a shaming, quiet, and personal mystery in a society that is uncomfortable discussing periods or validating their significant medical and mental health impact. Gupta combines memoir and research flawlessly so that readers understand the profound personal impact of PMDD as well as the financial, interpersonal, and societal consequences. This is a critical addition to books about medical issues that are too often under-researched, undiagnosed, and stigmatizing to those who are suffering.”
―Michelle Bowdler, author of Is Rape a Crime?

About the Author

Shalene Gupta is a reporter whose work has appeared in Fortune, The Atlantic, ESPN, Fast Company, and Harvard Business Review. She is the coauthor of The Power of Trust: How Companies Build It, Lose It, Regain It with Harvard Business School professor Sandra Sucher. She has a BA in writing seminars and psychology from Johns Hopkins University and an MS from Columbia Journalism School.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Flatiron Books (February 27, 2024)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 240 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1250882893
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1250882899
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1 pounds
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.62 x 0.88 x 8.56 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.7 4.7 out of 5 stars 23 ratings

About the author

Follow authors to get new release updates, plus improved recommendations.
Shalene Gupta

Shalene Gupta

Brief content visible, double tap to read full content.
Full content visible, double tap to read brief content.

Shalene Gupta is a reporter whose work has appeared in The Atlantic, ESPN, Fortune, Fast Company, and Harvard Business Review among other places. She has a BA in creative writing and psychology from Johns Hopkins University and an MS from Columbia Journalism School.

Customer reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars
4.7 out of 5
23 global ratings
I can't say enough good things about this book!
5 Stars
I can't say enough good things about this book!
I can't say enough about this book (and about this author!). Shalene Gupta has taken a deeply misunderstood clinical subject and made it deeply personal and truly riveting. Her words will leave you laughing and crying, and furious for the millions of women who suffer silently with PMDD. For anyone who's felt stigmatized for a mental or physical health issue, Gupta lets you know you're not alone . . . there's always someone out there who shares your experience. She shows this through her own struggles (which she shares so generously and with such wit!), and through her countless interviews with other people who suffer with PMDD. A must read for anyone interested in the history of women's health in this country as well as anyone who loves a good narrative non-fiction book!
Hide
Thank you for your feedback
Sorry, there was an error
Sorry we couldn't load the review

Top reviews from the United States

Madeleine Hall
5.0 out of 5 stars I can't say enough good things about this book!
Reviewed in the United States on February 28, 2024
Verified Purchase
I can't say enough about this book (and about this author!). Shalene Gupta has taken a deeply misunderstood clinical subject and made it deeply personal and truly riveting. Her words will leave you laughing and crying, and furious for the millions of women who suffer silently with PMDD. For anyone who's felt stigmatized for a mental or physical health issue, Gupta lets you know you're not alone . . . there's always someone out there who shares your experience. She shows this through her own struggles (which she shares so generously and with such wit!), and through her countless interviews with other people who suffer with PMDD. A must read for anyone interested in the history of women's health in this country as well as anyone who loves a good narrative non-fiction book!
Customer image
Madeleine Hall
5.0 out of 5 stars I can't say enough good things about this book!
Reviewed in the United States on February 28, 2024
I can't say enough about this book (and about this author!). Shalene Gupta has taken a deeply misunderstood clinical subject and made it deeply personal and truly riveting. Her words will leave you laughing and crying, and furious for the millions of women who suffer silently with PMDD. For anyone who's felt stigmatized for a mental or physical health issue, Gupta lets you know you're not alone . . . there's always someone out there who shares your experience. She shows this through her own struggles (which she shares so generously and with such wit!), and through her countless interviews with other people who suffer with PMDD. A must read for anyone interested in the history of women's health in this country as well as anyone who loves a good narrative non-fiction book!
Images in this review
Customer image
Customer image
3 people found this helpful
Helpful
 Report
PhotographerNerd
5.0 out of 5 stars Well-researched and easy to understand
Reviewed in the United States on April 4, 2024
Verified Purchase
I read this book as soon as it came out. It was a fascinating read covering the history and stigmas surrounding PMDD and menstruation in general. Very well-researched and written, interweaving journalistic analysis with personal accounts. A must-read for those wanting to learn more about PMDD.
Helpful
 Report
Brett
5.0 out of 5 stars Deeply important read for people with PMDD (and everyone!)
Reviewed in the United States on February 28, 2024
Verified Purchase
Wow! This is a deeply important book, and a story that needed to be told, in all its complexity and controversy. THANK YOU SHALENE! This book means so much to me and it will mean so much to the greater PMDD community. It has the power to raise awareness and help change the landscape surrounding PMDD, to clear some of the muck we must all wade through in our PMDD journeys that only worsen symptoms and compound suffering. This book is AMAZING! And I can't wait to read it again.
Customer image
Brett
5.0 out of 5 stars Deeply important read for people with PMDD (and everyone!)
Reviewed in the United States on February 28, 2024
Wow! This is a deeply important book, and a story that needed to be told, in all its complexity and controversy. THANK YOU SHALENE! This book means so much to me and it will mean so much to the greater PMDD community. It has the power to raise awareness and help change the landscape surrounding PMDD, to clear some of the muck we must all wade through in our PMDD journeys that only worsen symptoms and compound suffering. This book is AMAZING! And I can't wait to read it again.
Images in this review
Customer image
Customer image
One person found this helpful
Helpful
 Report
Em Bee
5.0 out of 5 stars Such a validating read
Reviewed in the United States on March 1, 2024
Verified Purchase
Incredibly thoughtful and thorough. An exceptional synthesis of the state of all things PMDD. I wish everyone would read this.
One person found this helpful
Helpful
 Report
Shannon
5.0 out of 5 stars Incredibly Validating!
Reviewed in the United States on March 17, 2024
“The Cycle: Confronting the Pain of Periods & PMDD” by Shalene Gupta is joining the short list of books that I wish I had years ago but that I’m glad that I have now. The title is pretty self-explanatory to many like me who have been diagnosed with PMDD, but I think this book is just as valuable to those without PMDD as to those with disorder.

For context, PMDD is the abbreviation for Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder, which basically means that those with this disorder experience severe levels of what might be considered more common PMS symptoms. For me, it’s extreme depression right before every period & cramps so bad that I used to have to call out of work or stay home from school. Not terrible overall, but incredibly disruptive when it’s happening 12 times a year every year since I was 12 years old. But there’s really not enough known about PMDD & The Cycle aims to clear away at least some of the fog through historical context, what few medical/scientific studies exist, & various personal anecdotes from her own life & from many others. This is why I picked up the book - it was purely personal interest because most days I don’t feel like I know enough about the disorder & how it might impact myself & my life.

While I can’t relate to every experience shared in “The Cycle,” there were so many validating moments that I often had to pause my reading to process & cry. In Gupta’s own words, “…what is unnamed is frequently unknown.” And being able to name an experience, to be able to finally describe what it is that you’re experiencing is so incredibly liberating. While I received my diagnosis a few years ago, I still had many “OMG” moments while reading this book. I feel seen & validated. So often I feel lost in my diagnoses of PMDD & ADHD that I question what part is actually me & what part of me is just a fluctuation of hormones or brain chemicals.

Like with much in the medical world when it comes to disorders primarily associated with women, there isn’t a lot known about it. But Gupta shares comprehensive information based on what IS available currently. And Gupta’s vulnerability lets the reader be vulnerable themselves & that’s a true gift. While the book doesn’t necessarily provide answers (because some answers just don’t exist yet), it does provide a sense of self-understanding & comfort.

Thank you to NetGalley & Flatiron Books for providing a digital advanced copy of this book. All thoughts & opinions expressed are my own.
Helpful
 Report
M. Lee
5.0 out of 5 stars I adored this book
Reviewed in the United States on February 27, 2024
Honestly, I'm not much of a nonfiction reader, but the topic of late-diagnosis in women is of particular interest to me right now and OMG I'm so glad I did. There is so much to love about this book so I made a list:

1. From the very first sentence Shalene grips you. "It is 3:00 AM in the early spring of 2020 and I am carving starts into my leg with a butcher's knife." I mean, come on. This is as real and honest and vulnerable as it gets. I meant to just skim a few pages when the book arrived but I ended up knee deep because I couldn't put it down.

2. The cycle metaphor. I didn't realize when I first read the title that it had so many layered meanings, and when I read Shalene's explanation in the intro I just teared up with the power and creativity of it.

3. I loved how Shalene described each interviewee. I felt like I didn't just know about their illness, but them as whole, complex people. She did such a beautiful job telling their stories.

4. It's so darkly funny. There is nothing better than talking about suicide or cutting or throwing a desk and then making a joke about it. How else we would survive it all?

5. Just the way Shalene's story is interwoven into her research is so smart and not at all boring. This work is so important and she's made it accessible to the people who really need it.

Whether you suffer from PMDD or simply have a uterus and want validation in how the medical system treats us, do yourself a favor and buy this book. You'll be better equipped to deal with the system and I promise you'll feel less alone.
3 people found this helpful
Helpful
 Report
Amazon Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars An often-painful topic goes down easy
Reviewed in the United States on April 21, 2024
Profoundly helpful. As someone living with PMDD, I felt so seen, supported, and hopeful. I hope every doctor treating women will be required to read this book during their medical training.
Helpful
 Report
The Blonde
1.0 out of 5 stars Skip this
Reviewed in the United States on March 24, 2024
My first review was removed. Which says a lot. So I will tip toe here. There is no new information here PMDD sufferers. You will not find a "cure" with this book. So please save your money and skip the read.
2 people found this helpful
Helpful
 Report

Top reviews from other countries

Kindle Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars I feel seen.
Reviewed in Canada on March 17, 2024
Verified Purchase
Thank you for this super informative, helpful, and relatable book about PMDD. I will be referring to it often.
Report