Survey study, 2024
How common is PMS in women with phenylketonuria, and does blood phenylalanine level predict symptoms?
39.1% of women with PKU experience PMS, with fatigue (55.4%), appetite changes (59.4%), and irritability (52.7%) being the most common symptoms. Blood phenylalanine levels did not predict who has PMS symptoms.
What they did
74 women with PKU (average age 21.7 years) were assessed for their menstrual cycle characteristics and PMS symptoms. Blood phenylalanine levels were measured and checked for correlation with PMS.
What they found
PMS was present in 39.1% of women with PKU. Most (82.4%) had regular cycles lasting 4-5 days in 47.2% of women. Painful periods occurred in 71.6%. PMS symptoms included 55.4% fatigue, 59.4% appetite changes, 52.7% irritability and depressive feelings, 43.2% swelling, 39.1% pain, 28.3% sleep changes and depressive thoughts, and 16.2% anxiety. Blood phenylalanine levels showed no significant relationship with PMS symptoms (p greater than 0.05).
What it means for you
More than one-third of women with PKU experience PMS with common symptoms including fatigue and appetite changes. How well their PKU is metabolically controlled (blood phenylalanine) does not predict whether they have PMS, suggesting other factors drive PMS in this group. This studies only women with a rare genetic condition.
39.1%
women with PKU who have PMS
55.4%
report fatigue
59.4%
report appetite changes
About the study
- Original title
- The relationship between menstrual cycle characteristics, premenstrual syndrome prevalence and blood phenylalanine level in women with PKU
- Authors
- Selamioğlu A, Tandoğan Z, Balcı MC et al.
- Journal
- Molecular genetics and metabolism reports
- Year
- 2024
- Study design
- Survey study
- Participants
- 74
- What was tested
- None
- Open access
- Yes
- Read the paper
- doi.org/10.1016/j.ymgmr.2024.101154
Topics
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