Cohort study, 2004
How much does PMS affect work productivity and daily activities?
Women with PMS missed significantly more work (2.5 days per month vs. 1.3 days) and had more low-productivity days (7.2 vs. 4.2 days per month). This shows PMS causes substantial real-world impacts on work and daily life.
What they did
A prospective cohort study where women aged 18-45 completed daily tracking of symptoms and work impact for two consecutive menstrual cycles using the Daily Rating of Severity of Problems Form.
What they found
Women with PMS had higher absenteeism (2.5 days per month versus 1.3 days, p=0.006) and more workdays with 50% or less of typical productivity (7.2 days versus 4.2 days, p<0.0001). They also reported more days with impairment in routine work, school, and household activities.
What it means for you
PMS causes measurable and substantial impacts on work productivity and daily functioning, not just health symptoms. This prospective study strengthens confidence in the results, though the abstract does not specify sample size and results may vary based on PMS severity.
2.5
days absent/month with PMS
1.3
days absent/month without PMS
7.2
low-productivity days/month with PMS
About the study
- Original title
- A prospective assessment investigating the relationship between work productivity and impairment with premenstrual syndrome
- Authors
- Dean BB, Borenstein JE
- Journal
- Journal of occupational and environmental medicine
- Year
- 2004
- Study design
- Cohort study
- What was tested
- None; daily tracking of symptoms and work impact
- Read the paper
- doi.org/10.1097/01.jom.0000131796.62115.84
Topics
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