--- title: What is it like to live with PMDD and how do you experience healthcare? description: Women with PMDD reported severe suffering including suicidal thoughts and inability to do daily tasks premenstrually. Most felt misunderstood by family and he url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/self-perception-of-the-illness-experience-and-her-relation-with-health-2017/ --- - [Niyora](https://niyora.com/) - [Research](https://niyora.com/research/) - [Library](https://niyora.com/research/library/) - What is it like to live with PMDD and how do you experience healthcare? Interview study, 2017 # What is it like to live with PMDD and how do you experience healthcare? Women with PMDD reported severe suffering including suicidal thoughts and inability to do daily tasks premenstrually. Most felt misunderstood by family and healthcare providers, and many waited a long time for diagnosis. Early or limited evidence 15 women from different countries diagnosed with PMDD ## What they did Scientists interviewed 15 women from different countries who had been diagnosed with PMDD. The interviews were done online and women shared their experiences in detail. ## What they found Women reported suicidal thoughts related to PMDD. During the premenstrual phase, they said they could not perform daily activities. It took many of them a long time to get a diagnosis. They felt their families and healthcare providers did not understand the condition. Some women thought hysterectomy might solve their problems. All emphasized severe suffering from the condition. ## What it means for you PMDD causes serious suffering and distress that affects daily life. Women often do not get adequate understanding or support from healthcare providers or family. PMDD should be recognized and treated as a chronic illness that deserves professional attention and care. 15 Women interviewed ## About the study Original title Self-perception of the Illness Experience and Her Relation with Health Professionals in a Sample of Women Suffering Premenstrual Dysophoric Disorder Authors Agustin Quilez Journal Journal of Women s Health Care Year 2017 Study design Interview study Participants 15 Open access Yes Read the paper [doi.org/10.4172/2167-0420.1000359](https://doi.org/10.4172/2167-0420.1000359) Original abstract Objective: To describe the experience of premenstrual dysphoric disorder in a sample of affected patients and to examine their experiences with health professionals. Materials and methods: Qualitative interviews via Internet were conducted in a non-representative sample of 15 women from different countries diagnosed with the disorder. All gave informed consent prior to participation. The Atlas.ti program was used to aid the coding of the categories that emerged. The information obtained was analysed and were considered valid according to the criterion of theoretical saturation. Results: This difficult life experience was reported to cause suicidal thoughts. In the premenstrual phase, the performance of certain daily activities is impossible. It may take a long time for patients to be diagnosed and understood; they feel a lack of comprehension both from their immediate social circle and from the health professionals who treat them. They feel they need more attention, and several individuals consider that hysterectomy maybe the definitive solution to their problems. Conclusion: The method used yielded information that is not generally obtained via surveys. The repeated references to suffering made by the participants, evidence the need for greater collective awareness of premenstrual dysphoric disorder, particularly inside the patient’s immediate environment and among health professionals. Attention should be drawn to this disorder and its serious consequences; what is more, it should be acknowledged as a chronic illness. Reproduced under CC-BY. ## Topics [Premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pmdd/)[Low mood and depression](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-depression-mood/)[Cognition, concentration and memory](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-cognition/)[GnRH agonists and ovarian suppression](https://niyora.com/research/topics/treatment-gnrh/)[Surgical menopause](https://niyora.com/research/topics/treatment-surgery/)[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 Interview study, 2017 What is the experience of living with PMDD and how well do doctors understand it? Systematic review, 2026 Can digital tools help diagnose PMDD? Cohort study, 2023 Is PMDD a valid medical diagnosis? Review, 2018 What are the most effective treatments for premenstrual syndrome and PMDD? Review, 2015 What do we know about PMS and PMDD and how are they treated? Review, 2004 What is PMDD and how is it treated? Ask AI about this page Copy prompt ChatGPT ↗ Claude ↗ Perplexity ↗ Google AI Mode ↗ Grok ↗