---
title: Are PMS symptoms the same from cycle to cycle? | Niyora
description: Yes. Mood symptoms like anxiety and irritability are the most stable. These mood symptoms, not physical symptoms, cause most of the impact on daily life.
url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/premenstrual-syndrome-evidence-for-symptom-stability-across-cycles-1997/
---

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- Are PMS symptoms the same from cycle to cycle?

Cohort study, 1997

# Are PMS symptoms the same from cycle to cycle?

Yes. Mood symptoms like anxiety and irritability are the most stable. These mood symptoms, not physical symptoms, cause most of the impact on daily life.

 Early or limited evidence

16 women with PMS

## What they did

16 women with PMS reported symptoms over 3 or more cycles (65 cycles total). Researchers tracked 14 different symptoms and grouped them into mood and physical clusters.

## What they found

Mood symptoms were the most common. Anxiety, irritability, and mood changes showed the most stability across cycles. Only mood symptoms strongly correlated with functional impairment.

## What it means for you

PMS follows a consistent pattern. Mood problems, not physical ones, cause most functional impact. Women's PMS may fit with mood disorders. Limitation: only 16 women studied.

16

women studied

65

menstrual cycles analyzed

14

symptoms tracked

## About the study

Original title Premenstrual syndrome: evidence for symptom stability across cycles Authors Bloch M, Schmidt PJ, Rubinow DR Journal The American journal of psychiatry Year 1997 Study design Cohort study Participants 16 What was tested None Read the paper [doi.org/10.1176/ajp.154.12.1741](https://doi.org/10.1176/ajp.154.12.1741)

## Topics

[Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pms/)[Anxiety and tension](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-anxiety/)[Irritability and anger](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-irritability-anger/)[Mood swings and emotion regulation](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-emotional-regulation/)[Quality of life and daily functioning](https://niyora.com/research/topics/life-area-quality-of-life/)

Research tells you what helps on average. Niyora helps on the day it hits.

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