Survey study, 2021
Did COVID-19 stress make PMS worse for young women?
Young women who experienced trauma symptoms from COVID-19 had more severe PMS symptoms than those without trauma. This observational study cannot prove that COVID stress causes worse PMS.
What they did
They surveyed 871 Japanese high school students about their PMS symptoms, COVID-19 fear, and stress/trauma symptoms, comparing those with and without COVID-related trauma symptoms and also comparing to 2019 pre-pandemic data.
What they found
PMS symptoms were more severe in those with COVID-related trauma symptoms than in those without. When compared to 2019 levels, the trauma group had worsening symptoms while the non-trauma group remained unchanged.
What it means for you
Major stressful events like COVID-19 may worsen PMS symptoms in some women, particularly those experiencing trauma. The study only included Japanese high school students so results may not apply to other populations or age groups.
871
high school students studied
About the study
- Original title
- Association between Premenstrual Symptoms and Posttraumatic Stress Symptoms by COVID-19: A Cross-Sectional Study with Japanese High School Students
- Authors
- Takeda T, Kai S, Yoshimi K
- Journal
- The Tohoku journal of experimental medicine
- Year
- 2021
- Study design
- Survey study
- Participants
- 871
- What was tested
- None
- Open access
- Yes
- Read the paper
- doi.org/10.1620/tjem.255.71
Topics
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