--- title: Do women who exercise regularly have fewer PMS and period pain symptoms than sedentary women? description: Yes. Sedentary women had significantly more period pain (82% vs 46%) and more PMS symptoms like depressed mood, fatigue, and difficulty concentrating. url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/regular-physical-exercise-sedentarism-and-characteristics-of-dismenorrhea-and-2018/ --- - [Niyora](https://niyora.com/) - [Research](https://niyora.com/research/) - [Library](https://niyora.com/research/library/) - Do women who exercise regularly have fewer PMS and period pain symptoms than sedentary women? Survey study, 2018 # Do women who exercise regularly have fewer PMS and period pain symptoms than sedentary women? Yes. Sedentary women had significantly more period pain (82% vs 46%) and more PMS symptoms like depressed mood, fatigue, and difficulty concentrating. Moderate study design Female students at Federal University of Sergipe, Brazil, some exercising regularly and some sedentary ## What they did Cross-sectional study comparing women who exercise regularly to sedentary women at a Brazilian university. Researchers used questionnaires to assess physical activity level and measured PMS and period pain symptoms. ## What they found Period pain (dysmenorrhea) was significantly higher in sedentary women (82%) compared to exercising women (46%) (p < 0.001). Women who did not exercise reported more depressed mood, fatigue, difficulty concentrating, and loss of interest in daily activities. ## What it means for you Regular exercise may help reduce period pain and mood-related PMS symptoms. However, this does not prove that exercise causes the improvement, as healthier women may both exercise and have fewer symptoms. The study did not report total sample size. 82% period pain in sedentary women 46% period pain in exercising women p < 0.001 statistical significance ## About the study Original title Regular physical exercise, sedentarism and characteristics of dismenorrhea and premenstrual syndrome Authors Lívio Matheus Aragão dos Prazeres, Renan Guedes de Brito, Erika Silva Ramos Journal Fisioterapia em Movimento Year 2018 Study design Survey study What was tested Regular exercise vs sedentary lifestyle Open access Yes Read the paper [doi.org/10.1590/1980-5918.031.ao18](https://doi.org/10.1590/1980-5918.031.ao18) Original abstract Abstract Introduction: Among the menstrual disorders of the female reproductive period, Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS) and Dysmenorrhea are the most prevalent. The intensity of the signs and symptoms in each of these conditions may compromise the physical, psychological and social well-being of the woman at the stage of the menstrual cycle. Objective: To compare the signs and symptoms of menstrual disorders in women who practice regular exercise or not. Methods: A cross-sectional study carried out on women who practice exercises regularly and sedentary women. The IPAQ questionnaires and the evaluation of signs and symptoms of dysmenorrhea and PMS were applied to non-sedentary and sedentary students from the Federal University of Sergipe, Campus Lagarto. Results: Both groups had similar data for mean age and the mean Body Mass Index (BMI), therefore, passive of comparison. The prevalence of dysmenorrhea was significantly higher among sedentary women, 82% in the sedentary group and 46% in the non-sedentary group (p < 0.001), as well as some negative impacts on the psychological, social and physical state of both PMS and dysmenorrhea. Conclusion: The prevalence of signs and symptoms of dysmenorrhea was significantly higher in the Sedentary Group. Analyzing the behavior of PMS in relation to the practice of physical exercises, it was observed that the signs and symptoms of depressed mood, fatigue, difficulty to concentrate, lack of interest in social and home activities were more significant in the Sedentary Group. 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/)[Dysmenorrhea and period pain](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-dysmenorrhea/)[Exercise and yoga](https://niyora.com/research/topics/treatment-exercise/)[Students and academic performance](https://niyora.com/research/topics/life-area-education/) 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 Cohort study, 2026 Are diet and lifestyle linked to premenstrual symptoms in college students? Survey study, 2025 How common are period pain and PMS in Spanish university students, and do lifestyle choices affect them? Survey study, 2021 Do diet, exercise, and stress affect menstrual cycle problems? Randomised trial, 2026 Does aerobic or resistance exercise reduce anxiety in women with PMS? Systematic review, 2025 How common are PMS, PMDD, and painful periods in nursing students, and do they affect their schooling? Lab study, 2026 Do core stability exercises help women with PMDD? Ask AI about this page Copy prompt ChatGPT ↗ Claude ↗ Perplexity ↗ Google AI Mode ↗ Grok ↗