---
title: How common are severe premenstrual symptoms in the general population of women?
description: Severe or moderately severe mood symptoms were not significantly more common in the premenstrual phase than mid-cycle in this large population study. Only 1%
url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/the-epidemiology-of-premenstrual-symptoms-in-a-population-based-sample-of-2650-1992/
---

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- How common are severe premenstrual symptoms in the general population of women?

Survey study, 1992

# How common are severe premenstrual symptoms in the general population of women?

Severe or moderately severe mood symptoms were not significantly more common in the premenstrual phase than mid-cycle in this large population study. Only 1% of mood symptoms in the population can be attributed to the premenstrual state.

 Strong study design

2650 urban women aged 20-49 from a random household sample

## What they did

Population-based survey of 2650 urban women aged 20-49 selected through random household sampling. Used standardized symptom questionnaire and determined menstrual cycle phase through follow-up for 71% of naturally cycling women. Initial response rate was 78.8%.

## What they found

Higher prevalence of severe or moderately severe affective symptoms in the premenstrual phase compared to mid-cycle was not found. Premenstrual distress appears to be a discrete mood disorder affecting women aged 25-35 years with probable ovulatory cycles and vulnerability to stress. The risk of affective symptoms attributable to the premenstrual state was 1%.

## What it means for you

Premenstrual symptoms may be less common than commonly believed. This suggests premenstrual distress is a condition affecting some specific women rather than a normal part of every woman's menstrual cycle. The limitation is that cycle phase wasn't determined at initial symptom assessment.

2650

women surveyed

78.8%

response rate

1%

attributable risk of mood symptoms

## About the study

Original title The epidemiology of premenstrual symptoms in a population-based sample of 2650 urban women: attributable risk and risk factors Authors Ramcharan S, Love EJ, Fick GH et al. Journal Journal of clinical epidemiology Year 1992 Study design Survey study Participants 2,650 What was tested Observational survey Read the paper [doi.org/10.1016/0895-4356(92)90039-p](https://doi.org/10.1016/0895-4356(92)90039-p)

## Topics

[Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pms/)[Menstrual cycle and mood](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-cycle-mood/)

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