Science Savvy

In this episode of Science Savvy, I speak with Pablo Otero, who holds a PhD from Imperial College London, about how certain substances can affect the body in social settings.

We discuss how mixing substances can increase the chance of unwanted effects, how the body responds under different conditions, and why avoiding recreational substance use is the lowest-risk choice.

This episode is for educational purposes only. It does not encourage recreational substance use or provide medical advice.

Reading list: Available on request.

Why do some women feel bloated, emotional, or irritable before their period, while others feel like they become a completely different person? In this episode of Science Savvy Podcast, Professor Rossella Nappi (gynecologist, endocrinologist, and sexologist) breaks down the crucial difference between premenstrual syndrome (PMS) and premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD), and why PMDD is far more than “just bad PMS.” Together, we explore what is really happening in the brain and body, from altered sensitivity to normal hormonal changes to the roles of serotonin, GABA, stress, trauma, and even the gut-brain axis.

Professor Nappi also explains how PMDD is diagnosed, why symptom tracking is important for those seeking help from a physician, as well as the treatments that can actually help (from natural lifestyle changes to hormonal contraception and intermittent use of antidepressants). Most importantly, this episode is a reminder that severe premenstrual symptoms are real, treatable, and never something women should have to just “put up with.”

As this was an interview, we do not have a "formal" bibliography. However, here are the papers I read to prepare:

Tiranini L, Nappi RE. Recent advances in understanding/management of premenstrual dysphoric disorder/premenstrual syndrome. Fac Rev. 2022 Apr 28;11:11. doi:10.12703/r/11-11. PMID: 35574174.

Facchinetti F, Borella P, Sances G, Fioroni L, Nappi RE, Genazzani AR. Oral magnesium successfully relieves premenstrual mood changes. Obstet Gynecol. 1991 Aug;78(2):177-181. PMID: 2067759.

Verri A, Nappi RE, Vallero E, Galli C, Sances G, Martignoni E. Premenstrual dysphoric disorder and eating disorders. Cephalalgia. 1997 Dec;17 Suppl 20:25-28. doi:10.1177/0333102497017S2008. PMID: 9496774.

Nappi RE, Petraglia F, Luisi S, Polatti F, Farina C, Genazzani AR. Serum allopregnanolone in women with postpartum "blues". Obstet Gynecol. 2001 Jan;97(1):77-80. doi:10.1016/S0029-7844(00)01112-1. PMID: 11152912.

Studd J, Nappi RE. Reproductive depression. Gynecol Endocrinol. 2012 Mar;28 Suppl 1:42-45. doi:10.3109/09513590.2012.651932. PMID: 22394303.

Lete I, Häusler G, Pintiaux A, Jamin C, Nappi RE, Fiala C, Chabbert-Buffet N, Lobo P. The inconvenience due to women's monthly bleeding (ISY) survey: a study of premenstrual symptoms among 5728 women in Europe. Eur J Contracept Reprod Health Care. 2017 Oct;22(5):354-359. doi:10.1080/13625187.2017.1400001. PMID: 29157023.

This episode explores how pain is shaped by the brain, body signals, context, expectations, and emotions.

We look at why stress can sometimes reduce pain, why mood can change how pain feels, and how approaches such as movement, relaxation, education, and social connection can help people understand pain better.

This episode is educational only and does not provide medical advice.

Reading list: Available on request.

Part two of the Science Savvy pain series explains how common pain medicines work and why pain relief can vary from person to person.

The episode covers medicines such as ibuprofen, paracetamol, local anaesthetics, and other prescription treatments, while also exploring how expectations, support, and non-medicine approaches can shape the pain experience.

This episode is educational only and does not provide medical advice.

Reading list: Available on request.

Pain is strange: we feel it in the body, but the brain plays a central role in creating the experience.

In part one of this series, we explore how pain signals travel, why reflexes can happen before conscious awareness, why chronic pain can persist, and why two people with similar injuries may feel pain differently.

This episode is educational only and does not provide medical advice.

Reading list: Available on request.