--- title: Does physical activity reduce PMS symptoms? | Niyora description: No. This study found no significant link between how much women exercise and their PMS symptoms. url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/recreational-physical-activity-and-premenstrual-syndrome-in-young-adult-women-a-2017/ --- - [Niyora](https://niyora.com/) - [Research](https://niyora.com/research/) - [Library](https://niyora.com/research/library/) - Does physical activity reduce PMS symptoms? Survey study, 2017 # Does physical activity reduce PMS symptoms? No. This study found no significant link between how much women exercise and their PMS symptoms. Early or limited evidence 414 women aged 18-31 ## What they did Cross-sectional study of 414 women aged 18-31. Researchers measured PMS symptoms using a modified symptom calendar and assessed physical activity by self-report. ## What they found Physical activity was not significantly associated with total, affective, or physical symptom scores. Women in the highest activity groups had odds ratios of 1.5 (95% CI: 0.6-3.7) and 0.9 (95% CI: 0.4-2.4) for PMS compared to women with the lowest activity (p-value for trend = 0.85). ## What it means for you The study found no clear link between exercise and PMS. The confidence intervals are wide, meaning we cannot be very sure of the results. Women reported their own activity levels, which can be inaccurate. A controlled trial would be needed to know if exercise helps. 414 women studied 80 with moderate-to-severe PMS 0.85 p-value for trend ## About the study Original title Recreational Physical Activity and Premenstrual Syndrome in Young Adult Women: A Cross-Sectional Study Authors Kroll-Desrosiers AR, Ronnenberg AG, Zagarins SE et al. Journal PloS one Year 2017 Study design Survey study Participants 414 What was tested Physical activity (observational, not a trial) Open access Yes Read the paper [doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0169728](https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0169728) Original abstract Introduction: It is estimated that up to 75% of premenopausal women experience at least one premenstrual symptom and 8-20% meet clinical criteria for premenstrual syndrome. Premenstrual syndrome substantially reduces quality of life for many women of reproductive age, with pharmaceutical treatments having limited efficacy and substantial side effects. Physical activity has been recommended as a method of reducing menstrual symptom severity. However, this recommendation is based on relatively little evidence, and the relationship between physical activity, premenstrual symptoms, and premenstrual syndrome remains unclear. Methods: We evaluated the relationship between physical activity and premenstrual syndrome and premenstrual symptoms among 414 women aged 18-31. Usual premenstrual symptom experience was assessed with a modified version of the Calendar of Premenstrual Experiences. Total, physical, and affective premenstrual symptom scores were calculated for all participants. Eighty women met criteria for moderate-to-severe premenstrual syndrome, while 89 met control criteria. Physical activity, along with dietary and lifestyle factors, was assessed by self-report. Results: Physical activity was not significantly associated with total, affective, or physical premenstrual symptom score. Compared to the women with the lowest activity, women in tertiles 2 and 3 of activity, classified as metabolic equivalent task hours, had prevalence odds ratios for premenstrual syndrome of 1.5 (95% CI: 0.6-3.7) and 0.9 (95% CI: 0.4-2.4), respectively (p-value for trend = 0.85). Conclusions: We found no association between physical activity and either premenstrual symptom scores or the prevalence of premenstrual syndrome. Reproduced under CC-BY. ## Topics [Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pms/)[Exercise and yoga](https://niyora.com/research/topics/treatment-exercise/)[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 Survey study, 2022 Does physical activity or obesity affect the risk of developing PMS? Survey study, 2025 Does physical activity help reduce PMS symptoms? Survey study, 2024 Which lifestyle choices affect PMS symptoms? Cohort study, 2023 Does physical activity reduce PMS in high school girls? Cohort study, 2023 Does recreational physical exercise reduce premenstrual symptoms in teenage girls? Survey study, 2022 Does physical activity reduce PMS symptoms? Ask AI about this page Copy prompt ChatGPT ↗ Claude ↗ Perplexity ↗ Google AI Mode ↗ Grok ↗