---
title: What is the difference between premenstrual syndrome and dysmenorrhea?
description: They are different conditions that occur at different times in the menstrual cycle and require different treatments.
url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/relationship-between-premenstrual-syndrome-and-dysmenorrhea-1989/
---

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- What is the difference between premenstrual syndrome and dysmenorrhea?

Survey study, 1989

# What is the difference between premenstrual syndrome and dysmenorrhea?

They are different conditions that occur at different times in the menstrual cycle and require different treatments.

 Early or limited evidence

Women

## What they did

The paper describes and compares the timing and characteristics of premenstrual syndrome and dysmenorrhea.

## What they found

Premenstrual syndrome varies between 2 and 12 days before the onset of menses and resolves within the first 24 hours of flow. Dysmenorrhea occurs 1 to 2 days before menses and diminishes within 2 to 4 days into the flow. These are identified as different entities requiring different types of intervention.

## What it means for you

PMS and dysmenorrhea affect different parts of the menstrual cycle and likely have different causes, so treatments that work for one may not work for the other. The abstract provides minimal information about methodology or study design.

2-12

days before menses when PMS occurs

1-2

days before menses when dysmenorrhea occurs

2-4

days into menstrual flow when dysmenorrhea diminishes

## About the study

Original title Relationship between premenstrual syndrome and dysmenorrhea Authors Booton DA, Seideman RY Journal AAOHN journal : official journal of the American Association of Occupational Health Nurses Year 1989 Study design Survey study Read the paper [doi.org/10.1177/216507998903700802](https://doi.org/10.1177/216507998903700802)

## Topics

[Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pms/)[Dysmenorrhea and period pain](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-dysmenorrhea/)[Psychotherapy, counselling and education](https://niyora.com/research/topics/treatment-psychotherapy/)[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

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What types of talking therapy have been studied for PMS and PMDD?

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