Survey study, 2025
How do PMS and PMDD affect work performance, and do birth control pills help?
PMDD most substantially increased the risk of work problems. Birth control pills significantly reduced work problems only for PMDD, not for PMS.
What they did
Researchers analyzed data from a nationwide online survey of 4,818 people in Japan. They examined how PMS, PMDD, and period pain affected work performance (presenteeism and absenteeism) and whether oral contraceptive use reduced these effects.
What they found
PMDD most substantially increased the risk of presenteeism and absenteeism. PMS and PMDD together accounted for approximately 15% of severe work-functioning impairment. Oral contraceptives significantly reduced work problems only among women with PMDD, not among those with PMS.
What it means for you
PMDD causes more disruption to work than PMS or period pain. Birth control pills may help with PMDD's work impact but not with PMS. This study only examined online survey respondents in Japan, so results may not apply to other populations.
4,818
survey participants
~15%
of severe work impairment attributed to PMS/PMDD
About the study
- Original title
- Menstruation-Related Diseases, Work Performance, and Oral Contraceptive: Nationwide Online Survey
- Authors
- Maeda Y, Tabuchi T, Fujiwara T
- Journal
- Journal of occupational and environmental medicine
- Year
- 2025
- Study design
- Survey study
- Participants
- 4,818
- What was tested
- Oral contraceptive use (observational comparison, not randomized trial)
- Read the paper
- doi.org/10.1097/jom.0000000000003533
Topics
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