---
title: Do smoking habits affect premenstrual and menstrual symptoms?
description: Smokers had significantly more severe premenstrual and menstrual symptoms than non-smokers, especially pain, concentration problems, water retention, and mood
url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/premenstrual-and-menstrual-symptomatology-in-young-adult-japanese-females-who-2011/
---

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- Do smoking habits affect premenstrual and menstrual symptoms?

Survey study, 2011

# Do smoking habits affect premenstrual and menstrual symptoms?

Smokers had significantly more severe premenstrual and menstrual symptoms than non-smokers, especially pain, concentration problems, water retention, and mood changes. Worse symptoms were linked to higher nicotine dependence.

 Moderate study design

785 young adult Japanese women (71 smokers, 29 quitters, 685 non-smokers)

## What they did

Cross-sectional study of 785 young adult Japanese women (71 smokers, 29 quitters, 685 non-smokers, most smoking 20 or fewer cigarettes per day). Participants completed questionnaires on menstrual symptoms and tests measuring nicotine dependence and reasons for smoking.

## What they found

Smoking affected menstrual cycle timing but not duration. Smokers reported significantly more severe premenstrual symptoms in five areas: pain, concentration, water retention, behavior changes, and negative affect. Premenstrual symptoms were more severe than menstrual symptoms in smokers. Overall scores during premenstrual phase were significantly correlated with nicotine dependence and smoking motives.

## What it means for you

Light smoking is associated with worse PMS symptoms, and the association is stronger with higher nicotine dependence. This is a cross-sectional study, so it cannot prove smoking causes worse symptoms. Findings apply to young adult Japanese women specifically.

785

total participants

71

smokers

685

non-smokers

## About the study

Original title Premenstrual and menstrual symptomatology in young adult Japanese females who smoke tobacco Authors Sakai H, Kawamura C, Cardenas X et al. Journal The journal of obstetrics and gynaecology research Year 2011 Study design Survey study Participants 785 Read the paper [doi.org/10.1111/j.1447-0756.2010.01353.x](https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1447-0756.2010.01353.x)

## Topics

[Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pms/)[Menstrual cycle and mood](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-cycle-mood/)[Cognition, concentration and memory](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-cognition/)[Alcohol, smoking and substance use](https://niyora.com/research/topics/comorbidity-substance-use/)

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