Skip to content

Survey study, 2021

What factors make premenstrual and menstrual symptoms worse?

Women with chronic illness, psychiatric history, reproductive problems, alcohol use, never being pregnant, and a family history of PMS tend to have worse premenstrual and menstrual symptoms. Having negative thoughts about menstruation also worsens symptoms.

Early or limited evidence 1,105 women aged 18-49 years

What they did

Cross-sectional survey of 1,105 women aged 18-49 who completed digital questionnaires during May-August 2018. Researchers analyzed results using statistical software.

What they found

26.2% experienced PMS and 11.5% experienced PMDD. Risk factors that increased symptom severity included chronic illness, psychiatric history, reproductive problems in the past year, dysmenorrhea, menstrual disorders, negative thoughts about menstruation, never being pregnant, contraception use, alcohol consumption, and family history of PMS or dysmenorrhea. Religious attitudes had no link to symptoms.

What it means for you

Many medical, lifestyle, and psychological factors are connected to worse premenstrual and menstrual symptoms. This large survey found correlations but cannot prove these factors cause worse symptoms. It is one snapshot in time in one place.

26.2%

had PMS

11.5%

had PMDD

1,105

women studied

About the study

Original title
Investigation of Factors Related to Menstrual and Premenstrual Symptoms
Authors
Nur Elçin Boyacıoğlu, Fulya Gökdemir, Neslihan Keser Özcan
Journal
Archives of Health Science and Research
Year
2021
Study design
Survey study
Participants
1,105
What was tested
none (observational study)
Open access
Yes

Topics