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 how teens interact with their peers, contributing to insecurity, aggression, and romantic attraction. The human brain is still influenced by many of the same chemicals throughout adulthood, but maturity and a little consideration can help prevent those natural chemicals from negatively affecting relationships.

The most well-known cause of hormonal imbalance and fluctuation is premenstrual syndrome, or PMS. Occurring between a woman’s ovulation and hers, 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’s ever had a girlfriend can attest, PMS is no laughing matter when her partner is expecting 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 you’re interrupting an emotional outburst or tense conversation. Even if the emotional outburst is fueled by her monthly cycle, the question completely eludes any attempt to address the actual topic of conversation. If he’s running at you with a knife because the toilet seat was left up for the hundredth time, he may care a lot about the courtesy of leaving the toilet seat up.

Aren’t you a little young for menopause?

Similar to the idea of ​​questions not to be asked directly, many successful boyfriends 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 for more offspring to pamper, most young women are well aware of the limited time their bodies allow them to give birth. There is something to be said for black humor that allows everyone to make light of their own mortality. However, men are not in a position to sympathize with the injustice of menopause because they can often continue fathering children well into geriatric age.

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

Borrowing a phrase from the elementary school playground, “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 friends in the long run. 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 the many mysterious factors that lead to miscommunication, misunderstandings, and conflict in a relationship. If the challenge of dealing with the opposite sex isn’t worth it, then we’re lucky 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 issues is one way to protect your relationship from being negatively affected by hormonal imbalance.