---
title: How common is PMDD among medical students in Nigeria? | Niyora
description: 36.1% of medical students had PMDD. Menstrual pain was significantly linked to PMDD.
url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/premenstrual-dysphoric-disorder-among-medical-students-of-a-nigerian-university-2010/
---

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- How common is PMDD among medical students in Nigeria?

Survey study, 2010

# How common is PMDD among medical students in Nigeria?

36.1% of medical students had PMDD. Menstrual pain was significantly linked to PMDD.

 Early or limited evidence

208 female medical students in Nigeria

## What they did

Cross-sectional study of 208 female medical students. They completed questionnaires about their background and periods, and were interviewed using the DSM-IV PMDD diagnostic tool.

## What they found

36.1% met PMDD criteria. Among the 65 with PMDD who had menstrual pain, 14 had mild pain (21.5%), 32 had moderate pain (49.2%), and 19 had severe pain (29.2%). Menstrual pain was significantly associated with PMDD (P=0.019).

## What it means for you

The rate of PMDD was high in this group. Menstrual pain strongly linked to PMDD. Cannot prove cause and effect. Study limited to one medical school and medical students specifically.

36.1%

PMDD prevalence

49.2%

had moderate menstrual pain

P=0.019

significance of pain link

## About the study

Original title Premenstrual dysphoric disorder among medical students of a Nigerian university Authors Issa BA, Yussuf AD, Olatinwo AW et al. Journal Annals of African medicine Year 2010 Study design Survey study Participants 208 What was tested None; observational study. Read the paper [doi.org/10.4103/1596-3519.68354](https://doi.org/10.4103/1596-3519.68354)

## Topics

[Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pms/)[Premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pmdd/)[Dysmenorrhea and period pain](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-dysmenorrhea/)[Low mood and depression](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-depression-mood/)[Pain and headache](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-pain/)[Psychotherapy, counselling and education](https://niyora.com/research/topics/treatment-psychotherapy/)[Quality of life and daily functioning](https://niyora.com/research/topics/life-area-quality-of-life/)[Students and academic performance](https://niyora.com/research/topics/life-area-education/)

Research tells you what helps on average. Niyora helps on the day it hits.

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

## Related studies

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Systematic review, 2025

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Systematic review, 2025

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Lab study, 2026

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Study, 2026

What are premenstrual syndrome and premenstrual dysphoric disorder?

Survey study, 2026

How common is PMDD among college women and what increases the risk?

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