Cohort study, 1993
How common are premenstrual and menstrual symptoms in women?
Menstrual symptoms are very common in women in the community and increase with age. Women with anxiety are more likely to report menstrual problems.
What they did
10-year prospective cohort study of young adults in Zurich, Switzerland. Researchers measured emotional and physical symptoms during the pre- and peri-menstrual phases and looked for associations with age, education, life events, contraceptive use, and psychiatric diagnoses.
What they found
Menstrual symptoms are common in the community and become more frequent with age. Women with menstrual problems were more likely to be childless, have higher education, experience distressing life events, not use birth control, have psychiatric disorders, and have certain personality traits. There was a strong association between menstrual symptoms and anxiety in both the women and their relatives.
What it means for you
Premenstrual and menstrual symptoms are normal and widespread. They may be more linked to anxiety than to hormones alone. The study is from one country in one time period and may not reflect all populations.
10 years
study duration
About the study
- Original title
- The Zurich Study. XIX. Patterns of menstrual disturbances in the community: results of the Zurich Cohort Study
- Authors
- Merikangas KR, Foeldenyi M, Angst J
- Journal
- European archives of psychiatry and clinical neuroscience
- Year
- 1993
- Study design
- Cohort study
- What was tested
- None - observational study
- Read the paper
- doi.org/10.1007/bf02191520
Topics
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