--- title: How common is PMS among teenage girls, and do they get help for it? description: PMS was found in about 61% of the adolescent girls studied, with roughly half of those having severe symptoms, and none had actually sought medical help for p url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/prevalence-of-premenstrual-syndrome-in-adolescent-girls-2024/ --- - [Niyora](https://niyora.com/) - [Research](https://niyora.com/research/) - [Library](https://niyora.com/research/library/) - How common is PMS among teenage girls, and do they get help for it? Survey study, 2024 # How common is PMS among teenage girls, and do they get help for it? PMS was found in about 61% of the adolescent girls studied, with roughly half of those having severe symptoms, and none had actually sought medical help for premenstrual complaints. This is one clinic-based study, so the exact numbers may not apply everywhere. Early or limited evidence 417 adolescent girls aged 12 to 18 attending a tertiary adolescent medicine clinic in Turkey ## What they did A cross-sectional study of 417 adolescent girls aged 12 to 18 at a tertiary adolescent medicine clinic in Turkey. All had regular periods for at least three months and no mental or chronic illness. They filled in a clinic form and the Premenstrual Syndrome Scale (PMSS); scoring above half the maximum (over 110 of 220) counted as PMS, split into mild-moderate and severe. ## What they found 61.2% (255 girls) had PMS. Of these, 49.4% were mild-moderate and 50.6% were severe. The average PMSS score was 154.56 in the PMS group versus 76.17 in the non-PMS group (p<0.001). Girls with PMS were slightly older on average (15.41 years) than those without (14.88 years, p=0.029). None of the girls had originally come to the clinic because of premenstrual complaints. ## What it means for you PMS is very common in teenage girls but largely goes unrecognised and untreated, since none of these girls sought care for it specifically. The study was done at a single clinic in Turkey, so results may not reflect all teenagers, and as a snapshot study it cannot track symptoms over time or prove causes. 61.2% PMS prevalence 50.6% Girls with severe PMS (of PMS group) 417 Total girls studied ## About the study Original title Prevalence of premenstrual syndrome in adolescent girls Authors Akbulut Ö, Jafari L, Aygün Arı D et al. Journal The Turkish journal of pediatrics Year 2024 Study design Survey study Participants 417 What was tested None tested; this was a prevalence survey using a symptom scale Open access Yes Read the paper [doi.org/10.24953/turkjpediatr.2024.4669](https://doi.org/10.24953/turkjpediatr.2024.4669) Original abstract Background: Premenstrual syndrome (PMS) is characterized by physical, cognitive, emotional, and behavioral symptoms that appear during the luteal phase of the menstrual cycle, disappear after menstruation, and are recurrent in every cycle. PMS significantly affects the social and academic lives of adolescents, and historically, it has been neglected by healthcare professionals. We aimed to evaluate the current point prevalence of PMS in Turkish adolescents presented to a tertiary adolescent medicine clinic. Material and method: Adolescent girls between the ages of 12 and 18 and who had regular menstrual cycles for at least three months without any mental or chronic illness were assessed. A clinic information form and the 'Premenstrual Syndrome Scale' (PMSS) questionnaire were completed. Those with a PMSS total score of more than 50% of the total score (>110 out of 220) were classified as PMS (+). Those classified as PMS were further classified as mild-moderate (score: 110-150) and severe (>150). Results: The study included 417 adolescents. The point prevalence of PMS was found to be 61.2% (n:255). Of those with PMS, 49.4% had mild-moderate and 50.6% had severe PMS. The mean PMSS score was 154.56 ± 30.43 in the PMS group and 76.17 ± 20.65 in the non-PMS group (p<0.001). The mean age was 15.41 ± 1.3 years in the PMS group and 14.88 ± 1.35 years in the non-PMS group (p=0.029). None of the youth in our study applied to our clinic due to any premenstrual complaints. Conclusion: PMS is frequently observed in youth, as indicated by our study. Adolescents have little awareness of PMS and their need for healthcare services. During the evaluation of adolescents, it is important for health care providers to acquire knowledge regarding the features of menstrual cycles and conduct a comprehensive psychosocial assessment. Reproduced under CC-BY. ## Topics [Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pms/)[Menstrual cycle and mood](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-cycle-mood/)[Adolescents and young people](https://niyora.com/research/topics/life-area-adolescents/)[Stigma, attitudes and culture](https://niyora.com/research/topics/life-area-stigma-culture/) 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 Study, 2026 What coping strategies help women manage PMS symptoms? 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