---
title: Is PMS before pregnancy linked to postpartum depression? | Niyora
description: Yes. Women with PMS symptoms before pregnancy were more likely to develop postpartum depression at day 7 to 10 after birth, 6 weeks postpartum, and 6 months p
url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/premenstrual-syndrome-as-a-risk-factor-for-postpartum-depression-2024/
---

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- Is PMS before pregnancy linked to postpartum depression?

Cohort study, 2024

# Is PMS before pregnancy linked to postpartum depression?

Yes. Women with PMS symptoms before pregnancy were more likely to develop postpartum depression at day 7 to 10 after birth, 6 weeks postpartum, and 6 months postpartum. This association was especially strong in women who had been pregnant multiple times.

 Moderate study design

260 women who completed full follow-up (initially 296 enrolled) from pregnancy through postpartum

## What they did

Cohort study following 296 women from pregnancy through postpartum (260 completed the full study). Women answered questionnaires about their PMS symptoms before pregnancy and depression symptoms at three timepoints: day 7-10 after birth, 6 weeks postpartum, and 6 months postpartum using the Edinburgh Postpartum Depression Scale.

## What they found

7.1% of women had PMS symptoms before pregnancy and 2.7% had severe PMDD. There was a direct correlation between previous PMS and postpartum depression at all three timepoints. This association remained statistically significant in women who had multiple pregnancies.

## What it means for you

Women with a history of PMS may have higher risk of postpartum depression, which is important for doctors to know for early screening and prevention. However, the study looked back at past PMS symptoms, so we cannot prove that PMS actually causes postpartum depression.

296

women initially enrolled

7.1%

had PMS before pregnancy

2.7%

had severe PMDD

## About the study

Original title Premenstrual syndrome as a risk factor for postpartum depression Authors A. Е. Sidorov, Tamara Denisova, Nadezhda V. Zhuravleva Journal Obstetrics Gynecology and Reproduction Year 2024 Study design Cohort study Participants 296 What was tested None (observational study) Open access Yes Read the paper [doi.org/10.17749/2313-7347/ob.gyn.rep.2024.506](https://doi.org/10.17749/2313-7347/ob.gyn.rep.2024.506)

## 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/)[Pregnancy and postpartum](https://niyora.com/research/topics/comorbidity-postpartum/)[Relationships and partners](https://niyora.com/research/topics/life-area-relationships/)

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

Systematic review, 2022

Does having PMDD increase the risk of depression during pregnancy or after birth?

Case-control study, 2013

Are stress hormones different in women with PMDD?

Survey study, 2023

Could treatments that affect the brain's GABA system help PMDD?

Cohort study, 2020

Can depression screening after birth predict who will develop PMS?

Cohort study, 2001

Do women with PMDD handle stress hormones differently than women without it?

Survey study, 2001

Do women with PMDD have other mental health conditions or personality traits?

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