--- title: How common is PMDD in Brazilian women and what are the most frequent symptoms? description: PMDD affects 3.57% of Brazilian women. Emotional symptoms like anxiety and irritability are much more common than physical symptoms like weight gain. url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/premenstrual-dysphoric-disorder-prevalence-and-symptoms-across-age-groups-a-2025/ --- - [Niyora](https://niyora.com/) - [Research](https://niyora.com/research/) - [Library](https://niyora.com/research/library/) - How common is PMDD in Brazilian women and what are the most frequent symptoms? Survey study, 2025 # How common is PMDD in Brazilian women and what are the most frequent symptoms? PMDD affects 3.57% of Brazilian women. Emotional symptoms like anxiety and irritability are much more common than physical symptoms like weight gain. Moderate study design 45,160 Brazilian women aged 20-49 from 303 private clinics ## What they did Cross-sectional study of 45,160 Brazilian women aged 20-49 at 303 private clinics. They completed a self-report questionnaire about their premenstrual symptoms. ## What they found PMDD prevalence was 3.57% (95% CI: 3.40-3.75). Anxiety and tension occurred in 99.9% of those with PMDD, irritability and anger in 99.8%. Weight gain occurred in 92.5%, swelling in 92.1%. Binge eating was linked to weight gain (odds ratio 2.77), acne (2.37), and immune/allergy issues (1.81). Mood changes were linked to immune/allergy issues (1.49) and breast pain (1.29). Depression was less likely with acne (0.72) and weight gain (0.77). ## What it means for you PMDD is uncommon but affects a significant number of women. Emotional symptoms rather than physical ones are the most common feature. Some symptoms tend to occur together. The study was in private clinics, which may not represent all Brazilian women. 3.57% PMDD prevalence 99.9% anxiety and tension in those with PMDD 92.5% weight gain in those with PMDD ## About the study Original title Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder Prevalence and Symptoms Across Age Groups: A Cross-Sectional Study Authors Pedro AO, Verdade RC, Lapa MG et al. Journal BJOG : an international journal of obstetrics and gynaecology Year 2025 Study design Survey study Participants 45,160 What was tested None Open access Yes Read the paper [doi.org/10.1111/1471-0528.18261](https://doi.org/10.1111/1471-0528.18261) Original abstract Objective: To estimate the prevalence and symptom severity of premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) in Brazilian women according to age groups, and to conduct an association analysis between psychoemotional and somatic symptoms. Design: Cross-sectional study. Setting: 303 private clinics across Brazil. Population: 45 160 women aged 20-49 years. Methods: Self-report questionnaire regarding the prevalence and intensity of premenstrual symptoms. Statistical analysis performed using Pearson's chi-square test and Poisson regression and multiple logistic regression. Main outcome measures: Prevalence and intensity of somatic and psychoemotional premenstrual symptoms. Results: Prevalence of PMDD was 3.57% (95% CI: 3.40-3.75). Psychoemotional symptoms were more prevalent than somatic symptoms, with anxiety/tension (99.9%) and irritability/anger (99.8%) being the most frequently reported symptoms. Weight gain (92.5%) and edema (92.1%) were the most prevalent somatic symptoms. Anxiety/tension and headache occurred independently of other symptoms. Binge eating was associated with weight gain (OR = 2.77, 95% CI [2.11, 3.62]), acne (OR = 2.37, 95% CI [1.79, 3.10]), immunoallergic exacerbations (OR = 1.81, 95% CI [1.26, 2;60]) and edema (OR-0.74, 95% CI [0.55, 0.97]). Affective lability was associated with immunoallergic exacerbations (OR = 1.49, 95% CI [1.16, 1.91]) and mastalgia (OR = 1.29, 95% CI [1.02, 1.63]). Depression was associated with acne (OR = 0.72, 95% CI [0.57, 0.89]) and weight gain (OR = 0.77, 95% CI [0.61, 0.96]). Conclusions: The prevalence of PMDD was consistent with other population studies. Psychoemotional symptoms were more prevalent. Association analysis provided new insights into premenstrual symptomatology. Reproduced under CC-BY. ## Topics [Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pms/)[Premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pmdd/)[Low mood and depression](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-depression-mood/)[Anxiety and tension](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-anxiety/)[Irritability and anger](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-irritability-anger/)[Bloating, breast tenderness and physical symptoms](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-physical-symptoms/) 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 Study, 2026 What are premenstrual syndrome and premenstrual dysphoric disorder? Randomised trial, 2021 Does hypnotherapy reduce pain and emotional distress in women with PMDD? Survey study, 2024 What factors are associated with PMS and PMDD in adolescent and young women? Review, 2009 How common are PMS and PMDD, and how much do they disrupt women's lives? Systematic review, 2026 Does vitamin D supplementation help PMS symptoms? Review, 2003 How do menstrual cycle hormones affect the brain and cause mood disorders like PMDD? Ask AI about this page Copy prompt ChatGPT ↗ Claude ↗ Perplexity ↗ Google AI Mode ↗ Grok ↗