Survey study, 2026
What are the most common PMS symptoms Egyptian women experience?
Physical symptoms like muscle weakness and fast heartbeat are most common, followed by mood changes and depression. Women's age, education, and marital status affect which symptoms they experience.
What they did
Researchers surveyed 492 Egyptian women using a questionnaire about menstrual symptoms and collected information about their age, education, marital status, and pregnancy history.
What they found
Physical symptoms were most frequent, including muscle weakness, fast heartbeat, nausea, and vomiting. Psychological symptoms like mood changes, depression, and anxiety were also common. Behavioral changes like reduced work performance and poor judgment occurred. Age, education, and marital status significantly predicted symptom patterns.
What it means for you
PMS causes a range of symptoms affecting the body, mood, and behavior. Different groups of women experience different patterns. Since the study recruited women conveniently rather than randomly, these results may not represent all Egyptian women.
492
Egyptian women surveyed
About the study
- Original title
- PREMENSTRUAL SYNDROME AND ITS ASSOCIATED SYMPTOMS AMONG EGYPTIAN WOMEN
- Authors
- Tereza Khalifa Garas Girgis, RAGAA ALI ABDRABBO, Sally Ebrahim Ali et al.
- Journal
- Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research)
- Year
- 2026
- Study design
- Survey study
- Participants
- 492
- What was tested
- None
- Open access
- Yes
- Read the paper
- doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.23040794
Original abstract
Abstract Background: Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS) is a disorder characterized by hormonal changes that trigger disruptive symptoms in a significant number of women. Aim: of this study was to assess Egyptian women's physical, psychological, and behavioral symptoms associated with premenstrual cycle. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional design was utilized to study phenomena. A convenient sample of 492 women were included. Menstrual Distress Questionnaire (MDQ), and sociodemographic and obstetric history questionnaire were used to collect pertinent data. Results: Physical symptoms had higher frequency followed by psychological, and behavioral symptoms respectively. The most common physical complaints were muscles weakness, tachycardia, nausea and vomiting. Mood changes, depression, and anxiety, where the most common psychological symptoms. Most women also complained of behavioral changes mainly in form of less performance at work and incorrect judgment. Statistical analysis revealed a significant relation between women's age, level of education, and marital status with the premenstrual symptoms. Conclusion. The study implicated the importance of integration PMS through women's health programs and reproductive health programs.
Reproduced under CC-BY.