---
title: How common are PMS and PMDD, and what are the best treatments?
description: Up to 12% of women are affected by premenstrual disorders that significantly affect their lives. SSRIs are the most evidence-based treatment; oral contracepti
url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/premenstrual-syndrome-and-premenstrual-dysphoric-disorder-2016/
---

- [Niyora](https://niyora.com/)
- [Research](https://niyora.com/research/)
- [Library](https://niyora.com/research/library/)
- How common are PMS and PMDD, and what are the best treatments?

Review, 2016

# How common are PMS and PMDD, and what are the best treatments?

Up to 12% of women are affected by premenstrual disorders that significantly affect their lives. SSRIs are the most evidence-based treatment; oral contraceptives and calcium may also help, but vitamin D and herbal remedies have weak evidence.

 Moderate study design

Clinical review covering ovulatory women (up to 12% affected)

## What they did

This was a clinical review describing the differences between premenstrual syndrome and PMDD, how to diagnose them, and what treatments work based on available evidence.

## What they found

Up to 12% of women are affected by premenstrual disorders. Symptoms are psychological and physical, occur during the luteal phase, and resolve after menstruation. Patient-recorded symptom tracking helps establish the cyclical pattern that distinguishes these conditions from other psychiatric or physical disorders. Select serotonergic antidepressants (SSRIs) are first-line treatments and can be used continuously or only during the luteal phase. Oral contraceptives and calcium supplements may also help. Vitamin D, herbal remedies, and acupuncture have insufficient evidence, though cognitive behavior therapy has data suggesting benefit.

## What it means for you

About 1 in 8 women have significant premenstrual symptoms that affect their lives. SSRIs are the most proven treatment. Some women respond to other approaches like calcium and oral contraceptives. Many popular remedies like vitamin D and herbal supplements lack good evidence. This is a clinical review summarizing existing knowledge rather than new research.

up to 12%

Women affected by premenstrual disorders

## About the study

Original title Premenstrual Syndrome and Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder Authors Hofmeister S, Bodden S Journal American family physician Year 2016 Study design Review What was tested None; clinical review of treatment options Read the paper [doi.org/10.1891/9780826195197.0143](https://doi.org/10.1891/9780826195197.0143)

## 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/)[Cognition, concentration and memory](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-cognition/)[SSRIs and antidepressants](https://niyora.com/research/topics/treatment-ssri/)[Oral contraceptives and drospirenone](https://niyora.com/research/topics/treatment-hormonal-contraceptives/)[Cognitive behavioral therapy](https://niyora.com/research/topics/treatment-cbt/)[Calcium](https://niyora.com/research/topics/treatment-calcium/)[Vitamin D](https://niyora.com/research/topics/treatment-vitamin-d/)[Other herbal medicine](https://niyora.com/research/topics/treatment-herbal-other/)[Acupuncture and acupressure](https://niyora.com/research/topics/treatment-acupuncture/)

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

Survey study, 2026

What are the causes, diagnosis, and treatments for PMS and PMDD?

Review, 2017

What causes PMDD and what are the best treatments?

Review, 2015

What do we know about PMS and PMDD and how are they treated?

Review, 2011

What are PMS and PMDD, and how common are they?

Study, 2022

What are the symptoms, causes, and treatments of PMS and PMDD?

Review, 2019

What causes PMDD and which treatments actually help?

Ask AI about this page

Copy prompt

ChatGPT

↗

Claude

↗

Perplexity

↗

Google AI Mode

↗

Grok

↗