Survey study, 2009
How many women in Switzerland have PMS or PMDD, and what factors are connected to them?
About 10% of Swiss women of reproductive age meet criteria for PMS and 3% meet criteria for PMDD. Both are more common in women aged 35-44, women not working, and women with poor physical or mental health.
What they did
Large cross-sectional survey of 3913 Swiss women aged 15-54 years. Women reported their premenstrual symptoms and other health information as part of a national health survey. Researchers calculated how common PMS and PMDD were and looked for connections with age, employment, health, and lifestyle.
What they found
91% of women reported at least one premenstrual symptom. Of 3522 women with complete data, about 10% met criteria for PMS and 3% met criteria for PMDD. PMS was more common in women aged 35-44, women in Italian Switzerland, women not employed, women with poor mental or physical health, women who had smoked, and women taking psychiatric medications. PMDD was linked only to poor health.
What it means for you
In Switzerland, about 15% of women of reproductive age have PMS or PMDD that needs treatment. Many report some premenstrual symptoms but fewer meet full criteria. Job status and general health seem to matter. Women who are less healthy overall are more likely to have these conditions. Results are from Switzerland and may not apply to other countries.
91%
Reported at least one premenstrual symptom
10%
Met criteria for PMS
3%
Met criteria for PMDD
About the study
- Original title
- Das prämenstruelle Syndrom zwischen Facts und Fiction – neue bevölkerungsbezogene Daten
- Authors
- Sibil Tschudin, Johannes Bitzer, Paola Coda et al.
- Journal
- Geburtshilfe und Frauenheilkunde
- Year
- 2009
- Study design
- Survey study
- Read the paper
- doi.org/10.1055/s-0029-1239029
Topics
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