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Survey study, 2011

How common is PMS and how much does it affect daily life?

Very common, affecting 81.25% of women, with significant impacts on work, school, mood, and physical symptoms like pain and fatigue.

Early or limited evidence 500 women aged 15-49, non-pregnant, from Pakistan

What they did

Surveyed 500 women aged 15-49 who were currently menstruating and non-pregnant. They collected demographic information and recorded premenstrual symptoms through interviews and questionnaires, then compared symptoms between premenstrual and menstrual phases.

What they found

81.25% of women had PMS. Backache and fatigue were the most frequent symptoms, reported by 89.2% of women. Significant differences between premenstrual and menstrual phases were found for weight gain, lower work or school performance, cramps, skin disorders, fatigue, mood swings, depression, and tension.

What it means for you

PMS is very common and significantly disrupts work and school, but this study was conducted in Pakistan and results may not apply to all populations.

81.25%

PMS frequency

89.2%

backache and fatigue

500

women surveyed

About the study

Original title
Frequency and Impact of premenstrual syndrome on quality of life
Authors
Zahida Parveen Brohi, Gulfareen Haider, Nishat Zehra et al.
Journal
Pakistan Journal of Medical Sciences
Year
2011
Study design
Survey study
Participants
500
What was tested
None
Open access
Yes
Original abstract

Objectives: This study was conducted to determine the frequency and impact of premenstrual syndrome (PMS) on quality of life in women of reproductive age (15-49 years), and to determine if frequency estimates varied with menstrual flow.Methodology: This cross-sectional study was carried out on 500 women of reproductive age currently menstruating, non-pregnant including women attending gynaecology outpatient department and female students of Isra University Hyderabad, from 1-July-09 to 31-December-09. Demographic data, and premenstrual Symptoms were recorded through interview and filling of predesigned questionnaire after taking verbal informed consent, and later analyzed on SPSS 11 for descriptive statistics and comparison of proportions using chi-squire test of Independence.Results: This study shows very high frequency 81.25% of Premenstrual syndrome among women of reproductive age. The most frequent symptoms were reported Backache 446(89.2%) and fatigue in 446(89.2%) out of 500 women. Significant difference of weight gain, lower work or college performance, cramps, skin disorders, fatigue, mood swings, depression and tension were found in premenstrual and menstrual phases among study participants.Conclusion: Premenstrual syndrome is a common problem, have an adverse impact on a woman

Reproduced under CC-BY.

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