---
title: Do longer periods mean worse PMS? | Niyora
description: Yes, women whose periods last longer than seven days were more likely to have PMS. When they got their first period and their weight did not affect PMS.
url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/menstrual-duration-and-its-association-with-premenstrual-syndrome-pms-2026/
---

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- Do longer periods mean worse PMS?

Survey study, 2026

# Do longer periods mean worse PMS?

Yes, women whose periods last longer than seven days were more likely to have PMS. When they got their first period and their weight did not affect PMS.

 Early or limited evidence

69 women aged 18-20 years

## What they did

Cross-sectional study of 69 women aged 18-20. Researchers asked about how long their periods last, when they started menstruating, their nutritional status, and PMS symptoms, then tested whether these were related.

## What they found

Longer menstrual duration (more than seven days) was significantly linked with PMS (p=0.032). Age at first period (p=0.495) and nutritional status (p=0.937) were not significantly linked with PMS.

## What it means for you

How long your period lasts may be a factor in PMS. However, the study was very small (only 69 women) and only included young women aged 18-20, so it may not apply to all women.

69

women studied

0.032

p-value for menstrual duration

7 days

cutoff for longer periods

## About the study

Original title Menstrual duration and its association with premenstrual syndrome (PMS): Reproductive and nutritional factors Authors Debby Endayani Safitri, Nur Setiawati Rahayu Journal Arsip Keilmuan Gizi (AKG) Year 2026 Study design Survey study Participants 69 What was tested None (observational study) Open access Yes Read the paper [doi.org/10.36590/akg.v3i2.1956](https://doi.org/10.36590/akg.v3i2.1956) Original abstract

Premenstrual syndrome (PMS) is a common menstrual disorder among women of reproductive age and may adversely affect quality of life. PMS is multifactorial and is thought to be associated with reproductive characteristics and nutritional status. This study aimed to analyze the association between menstrual duration, age at menarche, and nutritional status with PMS. A cross-sectional study was conducted among 69 female subjects aged 18–20 years. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire administered via Google Forms with the assistance of enumerators. Data were analyzed using the chi-square test at a 95% confidence level. The results showed a statistically significant association between menstrual duration and PMS (p=0.032), with a higher proportion of PMS observed among subjects with menstrual duration longer than seven days. In contrast, age at menarche (p=0.495) and nutritional status (p=0.937) were not significantly associated with PMS. In conclusion, menstrual duration is a factor associated with PMS among women of reproductive age.

Reproduced under CC-BY.

## Topics

[Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pms/)[Diet and nutrition](https://niyora.com/research/topics/treatment-diet/)[Work and productivity](https://niyora.com/research/topics/life-area-work/)[Adolescents and young people](https://niyora.com/research/topics/life-area-adolescents/)

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