---
title: How common are PMS and dysmenorrhea in medical students, and do they affect school performance?
description: PMS is common in medical students but usually mild to moderate. Dysmenorrhea affects 67% and is linked to worse school performance. Diet changes may help redu
url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/premenstrual-symptom-severity-dysmenorrhea-and-school-performance-in-medical-2012/
---

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- How common are PMS and dysmenorrhea in medical students, and do they affect school performance?

Survey study, 2012

# How common are PMS and dysmenorrhea in medical students, and do they affect school performance?

PMS is common in medical students but usually mild to moderate. Dysmenorrhea affects 67% and is linked to worse school performance. Diet changes may help reduce symptoms.

 Moderate study design

236 female medical students in Turkey

## What they did

Cross-sectional survey of 236 female medical students in Turkey randomly selected from 554. Participants completed questionnaires about premenstrual symptoms, diet, and school performance.

## What they found

32.2% had no PMS symptoms, 41.9% had mild, 20.3% moderate, and 5.5% severe. 67% had dysmenorrhea, significantly linked to severe PMS and poorer school performance. Higher carbohydrate and junk food consumption were related to higher symptom scores.

## What it means for you

Diet changes, especially reducing junk food and carbohydrates, might reduce symptoms and improve school attendance and exam performance. Main limit: cross-sectional study in one country, so cause and effect unclear.

67%

with dysmenorrhea

32.2%

no PMS symptoms

41.9%

mild symptoms

## About the study

Original title Premenstrual symptom severity, dysmenorrhea, and school performance in medical students Authors Elif Oral, Tülay Sati Kirkan, Esra Yazıcı et al. Journal Journal of Mood Disorders Year 2012 Study design Survey study Participants 99 What was tested None - observational, though diet is discussed as potential intervention Open access Yes Read the paper [doi.org/10.5455/jmood.20120912035016](https://doi.org/10.5455/jmood.20120912035016)

## Topics

[Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pms/)[Dysmenorrhea and period pain](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-dysmenorrhea/)[Diet and nutrition](https://niyora.com/research/topics/treatment-diet/)[Students and academic performance](https://niyora.com/research/topics/life-area-education/)

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