---
title: Do working conditions affect PMS symptoms? | Niyora
description: Yes. A study of 539 hospital workers found that physical demands like lifting and work stress were associated with worse perimenstrual symptoms including pain
url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/perimenstrual-symptoms-and-working-conditions-among-hospital-workers-in-quebec-1995/
---

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- Do working conditions affect PMS symptoms?

Cohort study, 1995

# Do working conditions affect PMS symptoms?

Yes. A study of 539 hospital workers found that physical demands like lifting and work stress were associated with worse perimenstrual symptoms including pain and swelling.

 Moderate study design

539 hospital workers in Quebec

## What they did

539 hospital workers completed a questionnaire about seven perimenstrual symptoms and their working conditions in a retrospective cohort study.

## What they found

Only 8% of women experienced no symptoms. Lower abdominal pain was the most common symptom (58% prevalence) and was associated with lifting weights. Back pain (44% prevalence), leg pain, swelling, and headache were associated with time pressure and fast work speed.

## What it means for you

Physical labor and work stress may worsen PMS symptoms. This questionnaire study shows association, not proof of cause. The findings suggest that occupational health research on women workers needs to account for perimenstrual symptoms.

539

hospital workers studied

58%

with lower abdominal pain

44%

with back pain during menstruation

## About the study

Original title Perimenstrual symptoms and working conditions among hospital workers in Quebec Authors Tissot F, Messing K Journal American journal of industrial medicine Year 1995 Study design Cohort study Participants 539 What was tested None Read the paper [doi.org/10.1002/ajim.4700270405](https://doi.org/10.1002/ajim.4700270405)

## Topics

[Pain and headache](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-pain/)[Work and productivity](https://niyora.com/research/topics/life-area-work/)

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