Cohort study, 2026
Do early-life exposures like antibiotics or breastfeeding affect PMS risk?
Yes. Long-term antibiotic use, earlier puberty, maternal smoking, and not being breastfed were linked to higher PMS odds. But only 0.07% of the study had PMS, so findings need careful interpretation.
What they did
This study examined 272,706 women from the UK Biobank using hospital records and self-reports. Researchers looked at six early-life factors: antibiotic use, birth weight, multiple birth, breastfeeding, age at first period, and maternal smoking. They used regression analysis adjusted for age, ethnicity, education, deprivation, and smoking.
What they found
Among 272,706 women, 0.07% had PMS. After adjusting for confounders, long-term/recurrent antibiotic use, earlier menarche, maternal smoking around birth, and not being breastfed were all associated with higher odds of PMS. Earlier menarche and antibiotic use were linked to several other gynecological conditions too.
What it means for you
Some early-life factors like breastfeeding might reduce PMS risk, but because very few women (0.07%) had PMS, the results should be interpreted cautiously. Most factors cannot be changed. More research is needed to confirm these associations are real and whether changing anything would actually prevent PMS.
272,706
women studied
0.07%
had PMS
6
early-life factors examined
About the study
- Original title
- Early-life exposures and risk of multiple gynecological diseases: evidence from a large community-based study of 272,706 women
- Authors
- Jiang J, Fu Y, Chen Y et al.
- Journal
- BMC women's health
- Year
- 2026
- Study design
- Cohort study
- Participants
- 272,706
- What was tested
- None - observational study.
- Open access
- Yes
- Read the paper
- doi.org/10.1186/s12905-026-04646-1
Topics
Related studies
Cohort study, 2026
Which established risk factors genetically cause premenstrual disorder?
Review, 1987
How well do hormone-suppressing drugs work for treating gynaecological conditions?
Systematic review, 2025
Does alcohol use affect menstrual health in teenage girls?
Cohort study, 2014
How common are PMS and dysmenorrhea in young women and do they change over time?
Randomised trial, 2026
Does vitamin D help with PMS symptoms?
Survey study, 2025
Are premenstrual symptoms linked to depression in teenage girls?