Non-randomised trial, 2007
Does a 50% drop in PMS symptom scores matter in real life, like fewer doctor visits or costs?
Yes. Women with much higher premenstrual symptom scores had notably more doctor visits and medical costs, which supports using a 50% symptom reduction as a meaningful marker of improvement in PMS or PMDD treatment studies.
What they did
Women aged 18 to 45 in a medical group in southern California filled out a health survey (SF-36) and then tracked their symptoms daily using the Daily Record of Severity of Problems (DRSP) over two menstrual cycles. They were sorted into a mild/no PMS or PMDD group (271 women) and a moderate/severe PMS or PMDD group (117 women), and their medical costs over the previous 2 years were checked.
What they found
The mild/no PMS group had 43% lower premenstrual symptom scores than the moderate/severe group (29.7 versus 52.4). This 43% difference was linked to a higher chance of having more than 10 doctor visits (OR 1.80) and of racking up more than $500 in medical charges (OR 1.9).
What it means for you
A difference in symptom scores of around 43 to 50% lines up with a real difference in healthcare use and cost, backing up the common practice of calling a 50% symptom drop a 'good' treatment response in studies. This was a comparison between existing groups, not a randomized treatment trial, and was based in one region, so it cannot prove treatment causes improvement.
43%
lower symptom scores in mild/no PMS group
OR 1.80
odds of more than 10 doctor visits
OR 1.9
odds of over $500 in medical charges
About the study
- Original title
- Differences in symptom scores and health outcomes in premenstrual syndrome
- Authors
- Borenstein JE, Dean BB, Leifke E et al.
- Journal
- Journal of women's health (2002)
- Year
- 2007
- Study design
- Non-randomised trial
- Participants
- 271
- What was tested
- None tested directly; this compared health outcomes between women with mild/no PMS and moderate/severe PMS or PMDD
- Read the paper
- doi.org/10.1089/jwh.2006.0230
Topics
Related studies
Review, 2026
How much do PMS and menstrual disorders affect women's work, school, and quality of life?
Survey study, 2002
What is the economic and work impact of premenstrual dysphoric disorder?
Cohort study, 2002
Does PMDD cause more healthcare costs and work loss than other premenstrual symptoms?
Cohort study, 2011
What is the economic burden of moderate to severe PMS or PMDD in Latin American women?
Survey study, 2010
Do women with PMS or PMDD miss more work?
Study, 2005
What is premenstrual syndrome and PMDD and how do they affect women?