---
title: How common are period pain, PMS, and premenstrual symptoms in physiotherapy students?
description: Most physiotherapy students report premenstrual symptoms affecting their daily lives, with the most common being impact on social activities (49%), work relat
url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/primary-dysmenorrhea-premenstrual-tension-and-symptoms-preceding-menstruation-in-2023/
---

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- How common are period pain, PMS, and premenstrual symptoms in physiotherapy students?

Survey study, 2023

# How common are period pain, PMS, and premenstrual symptoms in physiotherapy students?

Most physiotherapy students report premenstrual symptoms affecting their daily lives, with the most common being impact on social activities (49%), work relationships (43%), food cravings (43%), bloating (41%), and headaches (41%).

 Early or limited evidence

37 physiotherapy students

## What they did

37 physiotherapy students completed a survey about period pain, PMS, and symptoms occurring before menstruation.

## What they found

38% reported anxiety, 35% reported urge to cry, 43% food cravings, 41% headaches, 41% bloating, 43% reported changes in work relationships, 49% reported changes in social activities, 27% reported moderate medication use, and 24% used contraceptive methods continuously.

## What it means for you

Premenstrual symptoms are very common in this group and significantly affect work and social life. Many women manage symptoms with medication or hormonal contraceptives. This is a small group of physiotherapy students so may not represent all women.

37

physiotherapy students surveyed

49%

reported changes in social activities

43%

reported work relationship changes

## About the study

Original title Primary dysmenorrhea, premenstrual tension and symptoms preceding menstruation in a group of physiotherapy students Authors Jamilly Bertolácio Fernandes, Patrícia Brandão Amorim, Anny Kelly Serqueira Macedo et al. Journal International Seven Journal of Health Research Year 2023 Study design Survey study Participants 37 What was tested None Open access Yes Read the paper [doi.org/10.56238/isevjhv2n4-034](https://doi.org/10.56238/isevjhv2n4-034)

## Topics

[Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pms/)[Dysmenorrhea and period pain](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-dysmenorrhea/)[Anxiety and tension](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-anxiety/)[Pain and headache](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-pain/)[Students and academic performance](https://niyora.com/research/topics/life-area-education/)

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Calm down, see it another way, and decide what to say, with a PMS and PMDD app built by a doctor.

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