Systematic review, 2026
What is it like for women to live with PMS or PMDD?
Women report lack of understanding from others and healthcare providers, confusion about their identity, impact on relationships, and difficulty getting diagnosed. Better training for healthcare professionals is needed.
What they did
Scoping review of 19 qualitative studies exploring women's experiences of living with PMS or PMDD.
What they found
Four main themes emerged: lack of understanding or support from family, friends, and medical practitioners; dual identity; impact on relationships; and difficulties reaching a diagnosis of PMS or PMDD. Lack of understanding from healthcare professionals was highlighted as a key barrier.
What it means for you
Women with PMS or PMDD need better support and understanding from healthcare professionals and their communities. Healthcare professionals need training to recognize and support these conditions. Main limitations include relying only on qualitative studies and unclear geographic scope.
19
Studies included
4
Main themes identified
About the study
- Original title
- Women's experiences of living with premenstrual syndrome (PMS) or premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD): A scoping review
- Authors
- Haidarieh-Zadeh C, Morgan J, Gale L et al.
- Journal
- Health care for women international
- Year
- 2026
- Study design
- Systematic review
- What was tested
- None (qualitative review of experiences)
- Open access
- Yes
- Read the paper
- doi.org/10.1080/07399332.2026.2671885
Topics
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