--- title: Do Spanish women seek medical advice for premenstrual symptoms? description: About three-quarters of Spanish women experience premenstrual symptoms, but only 18.7% seek medical advice. Most did not seek help because they thought sympto url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/attitudes-of-spanish-women-toward-premenstrual-symptoms-premenstrual-syndrome-2011/ --- - [Niyora](https://niyora.com/) - [Research](https://niyora.com/research/) - [Library](https://niyora.com/research/library/) - Do Spanish women seek medical advice for premenstrual symptoms? Cohort study, 2011 # Do Spanish women seek medical advice for premenstrual symptoms? About three-quarters of Spanish women experience premenstrual symptoms, but only 18.7% seek medical advice. Most did not seek help because they thought symptoms were normal. Moderate study design 2018 Spanish women aged 15-49 ## What they did Cross-sectional survey of 2018 Spanish women aged 15-49. Participants were interviewed at home and completed a premenstrual symptoms screening tool. ## What they found 1554 women (73.7%) reported premenstrual symptoms during the previous 12 menstrual cycles. 8.9% had moderate or severe PMS and 1.1% had PMDD. Only 291 women (18.7%) had sought medical advice. 90.6% of symptomatic women who did not seek advice said it was because they thought symptoms were normal. ## What it means for you Most women with PMS do not seek help because they consider symptoms normal. Even among those seeking help, many did not receive adequate treatment. The study was limited to Spanish women so results may differ elsewhere. 73.7% Women with premenstrual symptoms 8.9% Moderate or severe PMS 18.7% Sought medical advice ## About the study Original title Attitudes of Spanish women toward premenstrual symptoms, premenstrual syndrome and premenstrual dysphoric disorder: results of a nationwide survey Authors Lete I, Dueñas JL, Serrano I et al. Journal European journal of obstetrics, gynecology, and reproductive biology Year 2011 Study design Cohort study Participants 1,554 What was tested None Open access Yes Read the paper [doi.org/10.1016/j.ejogrb.2011.06.041](https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejogrb.2011.06.041) ## Topics [Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pms/)[Premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pmdd/)[Low mood and depression](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-depression-mood/)[Oral contraceptives and drospirenone](https://niyora.com/research/topics/treatment-hormonal-contraceptives/)[Major depressive disorder](https://niyora.com/research/topics/comorbidity-major-depression/)[Stigma, attitudes and culture](https://niyora.com/research/topics/life-area-stigma-culture/) Research tells you what helps on average. Niyora helps on the day it hits. Calm down, see it another way, and decide what to say, with a PMS and PMDD app built by a doctor. ## Related studies Review, 2024 What are the most effective treatments for PMDD? Randomised trial, 2000 How should PMDD be diagnosed and treated? Study, 2026 What treatments work for PMDD? Survey study, 2023 Is PMDD diagnosis associated with more severe depression and anxiety and lower well-being? Case-control study, 2019 Do negative thinking patterns increase the risk of PMS or PMDD? Randomised trial, 2012 Does continuous birth control with levonorgestrel and ethinyl estradiol reduce PMDD and PMS symptoms? Ask AI about this page Copy prompt ChatGPT ↗ Claude ↗ Perplexity ↗ Google AI Mode ↗ Grok ↗