Survey study, 2026
How common is PMS in medical students and does it affect quality of life?
PMS was extremely common (95.7% of students) and affected all areas of quality of life. Results only apply to this student population.
What they did
613 female medical, psychology, and physiotherapy students aged 18-24 completed questionnaires about PMS symptoms and quality of life.
What they found
95.7% of students had PMS. Higher BMI was linked to worse PMS symptoms. Drinking soft drinks, tea, or coffee daily and eating chocolate daily were linked to worse PMS. All nine areas of quality of life showed a link with PMS severity.
What it means for you
PMS is very common in healthcare students and affects many areas of daily life. The study only looked at students in Pakistan, so results may not apply to all girls. The study cannot show whether changing diet or BMI would actually reduce PMS.
613
students
95.7%
had PMS
About the study
- Original title
- Frequency of Premenstrual Syndrome and its Impact on Quality of Life Among Future Healthcare Professionals
- Authors
- Kamilah Qamar, Muhammad Hamza Shoaib, Arshia Kanwal et al.
- Journal
- Pakistan Armed Forces Medical Journal
- Year
- 2026
- Study design
- Survey study
- What was tested
- None - observational study
- Open access
- Yes
- Read the paper
- doi.org/10.51253/pafmj.v76isuppl-5.12602
Topics
Related studies
Systematic review, 2025
How common are PMS, PMDD, and painful periods in nursing students, and do they affect their schooling?
Randomised trial, 2026
Can nutrition education reduce PMS severity?
Survey study, 2023
How common is PMS in female college students and does it affect quality of life?
Survey study, 2019
What diet and lifestyle factors are linked to PMS in university students?
Survey study, 2019
What causes severe PMS in female college students with disabilities?
Survey study, 2013
What lifestyle and diet factors are linked to PMS in young women?