--- title: How much do PMS symptoms actually change with the menstrual cycle? description: Physical symptoms like breast pain change reliably with the cycle, but emotional symptoms don't follow this pattern in most women. Only about one-third had em url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/the-characteristics-of-100-women-presenting-to-a-gynecological-clinic-with-1989/ --- - [Niyora](https://niyora.com/) - [Research](https://niyora.com/research/) - [Library](https://niyora.com/research/library/) - How much do PMS symptoms actually change with the menstrual cycle? Cohort study, 1989 # How much do PMS symptoms actually change with the menstrual cycle? Physical symptoms like breast pain change reliably with the cycle, but emotional symptoms don't follow this pattern in most women. Only about one-third had emotional symptoms that mostly disappeared after their period. Moderate study design 100 women seeking care at a gynecology clinic with premenstrual complaints ## What they did 100 women at a gynecology clinic with PMS problems completed daily rating scales for their symptoms. Researchers calculated how much symptoms changed between the premenstrual week and the postmenstrual week. ## What they found Physical symptoms of breast discomfort and swelling were more closely related to menstrual cycle phase than psychological symptoms of tension, irritability, lethargy, and depression. Only 32 women had 75% or greater reduction of premenstrual psychological symptoms during the postmenstrual week, while 62 women had this much relief of physical symptoms. For almost half the women, emotional symptoms reached their peak after the onset of menstrual bleeding. Women with near-complete relief of emotional symptoms postmenstrually were significantly less likely to have a history of psychiatric treatment, marital breakdown, or more than three children. ## What it means for you Many women with PMS, especially emotional symptoms, may have mood problems throughout their cycle that worsen during menstruation, not just before it. These women may not respond to hormone treatments targeting the premenstrual phase. The study was limited to women seeking care at one clinic. 100 women studied 32 of 100 had 75% or more emotional symptom relief 62 of 100 had 75% or more physical symptom relief ## About the study Original title The characteristics of 100 women presenting to a gynecological clinic with premenstrual complaints Authors West CP Journal Acta obstetricia et gynecologica Scandinavica Year 1989 Study design Cohort study Participants 100 What was tested None Read the paper [doi.org/10.3109/00016348909006149](https://doi.org/10.3109/00016348909006149) ## Topics [Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pms/)[Premenstrual exacerbation (PME)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pme/)[Menstrual cycle and mood](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-cycle-mood/)[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 Cohort study, 2023 Does the menstrual cycle affect how often women have suicidal thoughts? Survey study, 2006 Does the menstrual cycle affect mood disorders? Review, 2024 What do brain wave patterns show about PMS and PMDD? Systematic review, 2022 Do mental health disorders get worse during the menstrual cycle? Survey study, 2026 Does stress affect premenstrual symptoms in female athletes, and can coping strategies help? Study, 2026 What coping strategies help women manage PMS symptoms? Ask AI about this page Copy prompt ChatGPT ↗ Claude ↗ Perplexity ↗ Google AI Mode ↗ Grok ↗