Skip to content

Survey study, 2016

How common is PMS among female doctors and does it harm their work?

Half of the female doctors (50.7%) had PMS, and it significantly reduced their work productivity.

Early or limited evidence 177 female doctors aged 20-45 at King Fahad Armed Forces Hospital in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia

What they did

Researchers surveyed 177 female doctors aged 20-45 at King Fahad Armed Forces Hospital in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. They used a questionnaire based on American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) criteria to diagnose PMS and assess how much it affected their work.

What they found

50.7% of the female doctors had PMS. Most cases were borderline to mild (18%) or mild to moderate (16.3%). PMS was significantly related to overall work impairment. Saudi female doctors were more likely to have PMS than non-Saudi doctors.

What it means for you

About half of these female doctors experience PMS and it affects their ability to work, showing it is a real workplace health issue. This was a small study in one hospital.

50.7%

had PMS

18%

borderline to mild PMS

16.3%

mild to moderate PMS

About the study

Original title
Premenstrual Syndrome among Female Doctors at King Fahad Armed Forces Hospital: Prevalence and Impact on Work, Jeddah, 2014
Authors
Alaa Eldeen A. Shaheen, Nayef A. Aljohani, Rajaa Mohammad Al-Raddadi
Journal
International Journal of Medical Research Professionals
Year
2016
Study design
Survey study
Participants
177
What was tested
None
Open access
Yes

Topics