---
title: Do women with bad premenstrual symptoms drink more caffeine? | Niyora
description: Women with moderate or severe premenstrual symptoms drink caffeine differently throughout their cycle than other women, and this pattern may actually make the
url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/do-women-with-premenstrual-symptoms-self-medicate-with-caffeine-1991/
---

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- Do women with bad premenstrual symptoms drink more caffeine?

Study, 1991

# Do women with bad premenstrual symptoms drink more caffeine?

Women with moderate or severe premenstrual symptoms drink caffeine differently throughout their cycle than other women, and this pattern may actually make their symptoms worse.

 Early or limited evidence

47 women tracked across 96 complete menstrual cycles

## What they did

Researchers tracked caffeine intake across 96 complete menstrual cycles in 47 women. They compared caffeine patterns in women with moderate or severe premenstrual symptoms to women without these symptoms.

## What they found

Caffeine consumption patterns differed between women with moderate or severe premenstrual symptoms and other women. The pattern for women with symptoms was different from what a researcher had previously suggested would be helpful.

## What it means for you

Women with premenstrual symptoms may drink more caffeine trying to feel better, but their actual pattern of consumption may make symptoms worse instead of better. This is a small study that cannot prove caffeine causes worsening symptoms.

47

women studied

96

complete menstrual cycles tracked

## About the study

Original title Do women with premenstrual symptoms self-medicate with caffeine? Authors Rossignol AM, Bonnlander H, Song L et al. Journal Epidemiology (Cambridge, Mass.) Year 1991 Study design Study Participants 47 Read the paper [doi.org/10.1097/00001648-199111000-00003](https://doi.org/10.1097/00001648-199111000-00003)

## Topics

[Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pms/)[Diet and nutrition](https://niyora.com/research/topics/treatment-diet/)

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