---
title: What does the pattern of premenstrual syndrome symptoms look like across the menstrual cycle?
description: Symptoms clearly increase starting about 7 days before menstruation and peak on the second day of the next period. However, when researchers checked the same
url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/longitudinal-measurement-in-the-diagnostics-of-the-premenstrual-syndrome-1993/
---

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- What does the pattern of premenstrual syndrome symptoms look like across the menstrual cycle?

Cohort study, 1993

# What does the pattern of premenstrual syndrome symptoms look like across the menstrual cycle?

Symptoms clearly increase starting about 7 days before menstruation and peak on the second day of the next period. However, when researchers checked the same women again over 2 years, fewer of them still met the criteria for PMS.

 Moderate study design

51 women who reported having premenstrual syndrome

## What they did

51 women with PMS answered questions about their symptoms every other day for at least 2 consecutive menstrual cycles using a standard questionnaire called the Moos' Menstrual Distress Questionnaire.

## What they found

Symptoms showed a clear pattern, starting about 7 days before menstruation and reaching their peak on the second day of the next cycle. Over 2 years of observation, there was a substantial decrease in the number of women who still had PMS.

## What it means for you

If you have PMS, your symptoms likely follow a predictable pattern tied to your cycle. The main limitation is the small sample size and short follow-up period, so we do not know if this pattern holds long-term.

51

women with PMS

7 days

before menstruation when symptoms started increasing

2

consecutive menstrual cycles tracked

## About the study

Original title Longitudinal measurement in the diagnostics of the premenstrual syndrome Authors van der Ploeg HM, Lodder EB Journal Journal of psychosomatic research Year 1993 Study design Cohort study Participants 51 What was tested None. The study only measured symptoms. Read the paper [doi.org/10.1016/0022-3999(93)90121-u](https://doi.org/10.1016/0022-3999(93)90121-u)

## Topics

[Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pms/)

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Calm down, see it another way, and decide what to say, with a PMS and PMDD app built by a doctor.

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