--- title: How common are PMS and period pain in college women, and do they affect school work? description: Both are very common. Over half of women with these conditions had worse school performance, but very few sought medical help. url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/the-impact-of-dysmenorrhea-and-premenstrual-syndrome-on-academic-performance-of-2020/ --- - [Niyora](https://niyora.com/) - [Research](https://niyora.com/research/) - [Library](https://niyora.com/research/library/) - How common are PMS and period pain in college women, and do they affect school work? Survey study, 2020 # How common are PMS and period pain in college women, and do they affect school work? Both are very common. Over half of women with these conditions had worse school performance, but very few sought medical help. Early or limited evidence 352 female college students aged 18-27 in Turkey ## What they did Cross-sectional online survey of 352 female college students aged 18-27 at a university in Turkey, December 2017-January 2018. Participants answered multiple-choice and short paragraph questions about menstrual symptoms and academic impact. ## What they found 90.1% had period pain. 56% reported lower academic performance during menstruation. Only 32.8% with period pain visited a gynecology clinic. 71.3% had PMS alone and 65.9% had PMS with period pain. Depression was the most common symptom in those with affected school performance (27.5%). Only 19.9% with PMS consulted a healthcare provider. ## What it means for you This shows PMS and period pain are very common in college women and often hurt school performance, but most do not seek help. The study is from one university in Turkey, so results may not apply to other countries or older women. 90.1% had period pain 71.3% had PMS alone 56% lower academic performance ## About the study Original title The impact of dysmenorrhea and premenstrual syndrome on academic performance of college students, and their willingness to seek help Authors Bilir E, Yıldız Ş, Yakın K et al. Journal Turkish journal of obstetrics and gynecology Year 2020 Study design Survey study Participants 352 What was tested None Open access Yes Read the paper [doi.org/10.4274/tjod.galenos.2020.97266](https://doi.org/10.4274/tjod.galenos.2020.97266) Original abstract Objective: To reveal the characteristics and prevalence of dysmenorrhea and Premenstrual syndrome (PMS) among college students and to investigate their impact on their academic performance. Materials and methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted between December 2017 and January 2018 at Koç University, Turkey. An online survey that included multiple-choice and short paragraph questions was prepared. Female students aged between 18 and 27 years were invited with an email to provide online informed consent to proceed to the survey. Results: The final analysis included 352 students. The prevalence of dysmenorrhea was found as 90.1%. Fifty-six percent of the participants reported lower academic performance during menstruation. However, only 32.8% of the students with dysmenorrhea presented to the gynecology clinic. The prevalence of PMS alone and with dysmenorrhea was 71.3% and 65.9%, respectively. The most common symptom among those who reported affected academic performance was depression (prevalence of 27.5%). However, only 19.9% of students with PMS consulted a healthcare professional. Conclusion: Symptoms of dysmenorrhea and PMS are generally neglected by students. Quality of life can be affected more than estimated. Considering the reluctance to disclose menstrual disorders, health care providers should be aware of them and ask women about their symptoms during routine visits. Reproduced under CC-BY. ## Topics [Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pms/)[Dysmenorrhea and period pain](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-dysmenorrhea/)[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 Systematic review, 2025 How common are PMS, PMDD, and painful periods in nursing students, and do they affect their schooling? Systematic review, 2025 Does teaching adolescent girls about their menstrual cycle and health help reduce period pain and PMS? Survey study, 2026 Does COVID-19 infection or depression affect menstrual periods? Survey study, 2026 Do young women with PMS search online for health information more and develop health anxiety from it? Survey study, 2026 Does exercise help college women with period problems and mental health? Non-randomised trial, 2026 Does video-guided digital menstrual exercise reduce PMS and period pain in adolescent girls? Ask AI about this page Copy prompt ChatGPT ↗ Claude ↗ Perplexity ↗ Google AI Mode ↗ Grok ↗