Survey study, 1999
Does learning about PMS make women perceive their symptoms as more severe?
Yes. Women who watched a video about PMS and its negative effects reported significantly more severe premenstrual symptoms afterward, while women who watched a video about the menstrual cycle showed no change.
What they did
Researchers gave 86 healthy Mexican women with education through 6th grade a symptom questionnaire. Then half watched a video about PMS and its negative effects on daily life, while the other half watched a video about the normal menstrual cycle. Symptoms were measured again after one menstrual cycle.
What they found
Women in the PMS video group reported significantly more severe premenstrual symptoms on the second measurement. The control group, who watched the menstrual cycle video, showed no significant change in symptom reports.
What it means for you
What women know or expect about PMS may influence how severe they perceive their symptoms to be. This was a small study in one country with women who had limited education, so findings may not apply more broadly.
86
women studied
2
groups (PMS video or cycle video)
1
menstrual cycle between measurements
About the study
- Original title
- Premenstrual symptomatology: role of prior knowledge about premenstrual syndrome
- Authors
- Marván ML, Escobedo C
- Journal
- Psychosomatic medicine
- Year
- 1999
- Study design
- Survey study
- Participants
- 86
- What was tested
- Video describing PMS and its negative consequences in daily life
- Read the paper
- doi.org/10.1097/00006842-199903000-00007
Topics
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