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Adolescents and young people: what the research says

890 studies on adolescents and young people in PMS and PMDD, each explained in plain English. 21 of them use the strongest designs: randomised trials and systematic reviews.

Survey study 502Non-randomised trial 75Randomised trial 67Cohort study 66Study 61Case-control study 29
Randomised trial, 2026

Does aerobic or resistance exercise reduce anxiety in women with PMS?

Both aerobic and resistance exercise reduced anxiety and improved emotional control in women with PMS. Resistance exercise was superior to aerobic exercise for reducing anxiety.

Randomised trial, 2025

Does mood, well-being, and sexual function change across the menstrual cycle?

No, there were no meaningful changes in sexual function, mood, or well-being across menstrual cycle phases in healthy young women. Being in a stable relationship predicted better sexual function overall, but cycle phase did not.

Cohort study, 2025

Are irregular menstrual cycles linked to lower thinking and memory skills in middle-aged women?

Yes. Women with irregular cycles at ages 29-46 and women with very short cycles (25 days or less) at ages 18-22 both had slightly lower memory scores later in life.

Cohort study, 2025

How common is PMS in Chinese teenage girls, and what factors are linked to it?

About 1 in 4 Chinese girls (24.6%) has PMS. Higher stress, anger, alcohol use, menstrual cycles of 24 days or less, and period pain are all linked to increased PMS likelihood.

Systematic review, 2025

Does alcohol use affect menstrual health in teenage girls?

Yes. Alcohol use is linked to irregular periods, PMS, period pain, and early or unintended pregnancy in teenage girls, though more research is needed to prove alcohol directly causes these problems.

Systematic review, 2025

Does teaching adolescent girls about their menstrual cycle and health help reduce period pain and PMS?

Yes. A systematic review of five good-quality studies shows that psychoeducation (structured teaching) significantly reduced period pain and PMS symptoms and improved emotional wellbeing in adolescent girls.

Cohort study, 2024

Does psychological distress in adolescence predict menstrual symptoms in adulthood?

Yes. Women who had higher psychological distress at age 16 were significantly more likely to experience various menstrual symptoms at ages 16, 30, and 42. This is based on a large, long-term study.

Randomised trial, 2024

Does curcumin-piperine combination improve antioxidant activity in women with PMS and period pain?

Curcumin significantly increased free-radical scavenging activity in the blood compared to placebo. However, other antioxidant measures showed no difference, so the practical benefit is unclear.

Systematic review, 2024

How common is premenstrual syndrome in Africa, and what factors increase the risk?

About 47 percent of reproductive-age women in Africa experience PMS, which is high. Starting menstruation at an earlier age is a clear risk factor.

Cohort study, 2024

Is there a link between sleep and menstrual problems in teenage girls?

Yes. Girls who sleep less and have more sleep problems report worse menstrual pain, irregular periods, and more premenstrual symptoms.

Guideline, 2023

What treatments work for PMS and PMDD?

Many treatments work including medications, therapy, exercise, and supplements. The best choice depends on your symptoms and what you prefer.

Randomised trial, 2023

Does zinc supplementation reduce PMS symptoms in women?

Yes. Daily zinc supplementation for 24 weeks significantly reduced multiple PMS symptoms including anger, anxiety, depressed mood, and physical symptoms like breast tenderness and bloating compared to placebo.

Cohort study, 2022

Does body size during childhood affect the risk of premenstrual disorders later?

Yes. Girls with higher BMI in childhood and adolescence had higher risk of developing premenstrual disorders by young adulthood. This association remained even after accounting for depression, anxiety, and other mental health conditions.

Randomised trial, 2022

Does curcumin with piperine reduce PMS symptoms by lowering inflammation?

Curcumin combined with piperine significantly reduced a specific immune marker (IgE) related to inflammation, but did not change other immune markers. The effect on PMS symptoms was not directly measured.

Cohort study, 2021

Does when you start puberty affect your risk of premenstrual disorders as an adult?

Women who started menstruating later had lower risk of premenstrual disorders in adulthood. Women who had early pubic hair growth had higher risk of premenstrual disorders.

Systematic review, 2021

How common is PMDD among female students in Ethiopia?

PMDD is very common. About 54.5% of female students in Ethiopia have it, though prevalence estimates across studies ranged from 40.8% to 67.6%.

Systematic review, 2020

How common is PMS among women of reproductive age in Ethiopia?

PMS is very common. About 53% of women of reproductive age have it. Age at first period, menstrual pattern, and hormonal contraceptive use were not significantly associated with PMS.

Systematic review, 2017

Does Vitex agnus castus help treat premenstrual syndrome?

The meta-analysis found a large pooled effect of Vitex agnus castus compared to placebo, but the included studies have significant quality problems, publication bias, and very different results from each other, so we cannot confidently say it truly works.

Cohort study, 2014

How common are PMS and dysmenorrhea in young women and do they change over time?

Both are very common. PMS affected 80% of Australian women at some point over 13 years; dysmenorrhea affected 60%. Both tend to persist if present, but women follow different patterns: some have symptoms continuously, others develop them later, some recover, and some have them on and off.

Randomised trial, 2009

Does longer sertraline treatment prevent PMS symptoms from returning?

Yes. When women took sertraline for 12 months, 41% had symptoms return, compared to 60% who took it for only 4 months. Women with more severe symptoms at the start were much more likely to have symptoms come back.

Randomised trial, 2004

Which low-dose birth control pill has better cycle control and fewer side effects?

Both pills equally reduced period pain and PMS. One type (with desogestrel) had more stable bleeding patterns and less acne than the other (with levonorgestrel). Both were well tolerated overall.

Survey study, 2026

Are menstrual characteristics linked to depression and anxiety in teenage girls?

Yes. Girls with earlier periods, irregular cycles, long cycles, severe period pain, and worse premenstrual symptoms have higher depression and anxiety scores, and these links get stronger as girls get older.

Randomised trial, 2026

Which works better for PMDD: cognitive-behavioral therapy or mindfulness-based cognitive therapy?

Both therapies reduced stress and improved well-being in PMDD, with cognitive-behavioral therapy being more effective. However, neither significantly improved emotional well-being.

Survey study, 2026

Do young women with PMS search online for health information more and develop health anxiety from it?

Yes. Young women with PMS were more likely to search online for health information and reported higher health anxiety from internet searches. PMS severity remained linked to health anxiety even after accounting for stress and internet time.

Non-randomised trial, 2026

Do dietary changes or sun exposure reduce PMS symptoms in adolescent girls?

Yes. Both dietary intervention and sun exposure significantly reduced PMS symptoms compared to health education alone. Sun exposure was slightly more effective, with 52.3% of girls showing clinical improvement compared to 46.5% in the diet group.

Survey study, 2026

What dietary, lifestyle, and psychological factors are associated with PMS in young women?

Stress and sleep problems were independently associated with PMS. Diet and weight were not independently associated with PMS after accounting for other factors. This is a cross-sectional study, so these are associations, not proof of cause and effect.

Survey study, 2026

Does diet affect PMS severity?

Yes. Women eating a Western-style diet were 2.35 times more likely to have severe PMS than those with a healthy diet. Women eating very little food had up to 3 times higher odds of moderate or severe PMS. However, this does not prove diet causes PMS.

Cohort study, 2026

Do early-life exposures like antibiotics or breastfeeding affect PMS risk?

Yes. Long-term antibiotic use, earlier puberty, maternal smoking, and not being breastfed were linked to higher PMS odds. But only 0.07% of the study had PMS, so findings need careful interpretation.

Lab study, 2026

Do core stability exercises help women with PMDD?

Yes. After 8 weeks of core stability exercises, women with PMDD had reduced pain and improved ability to do daily activities.

Randomised trial, 2026

Does pumpkin seed extract reduce PMS symptoms in teenage girls?

Yes. Taking 500 mg of pumpkin seed extract twice daily for 10 days significantly reduced PMS symptoms more than taking it once daily or placebo.

Non-randomised trial, 2026

Does video-guided digital menstrual exercise reduce PMS and period pain in adolescent girls?

Yes. The exercise group was much more likely to have no PMS symptoms (74.3%) and no period pain (34.3%) compared to the control group.

Review, 2026

How should doctors diagnose and treat PMDD?

Doctors can treat PMDD with antidepressants (SSRIs) or birth control pills. The main challenge is that diagnosis is often difficult and delayed, especially for women with other mental health conditions.

Survey study, 2026

What helps teenagers cope better with PMS?

Social support and regular menstrual cycles are the strongest factors that help teenagers manage PMS. Teenagers who feel supported by others tend to use healthier coping strategies.

Study, 2026

What coping strategies help women manage PMS symptoms?

Many strategies help manage PMS: psychological and behavioral changes, lifestyle modifications, and complementary methods like yoga and meditation. Programs combining counseling, education, and lifestyle changes work best and have few side effects.

Survey study, 2026

Is worry about climate change linked to worse PMS symptoms?

Higher climate change anxiety was associated with worse PMS symptoms. Climate anxiety is just one of many factors affecting PMS severity.

Survey study, 2026

How common are PMS and PMDD in teenagers, and can a new questionnaire measure their impact?

Very common. 46.6% of teenage girls had moderate-to-severe PMS and 22.5% had PMDD. The questionnaire accurately measured how much their symptoms disrupted their daily lives and school.

Cohort study, 2026

Which established risk factors genetically cause premenstrual disorder?

Genetic analysis suggests three factors cause premenstrual disorder: earlier age at first period, higher BMI, and smoking. However, when tested in a smaller group, results were not consistent, so more research is needed to be sure.

Case-control study, 2026

Do adolescents with heart disease have worse menstrual problems than healthy teenagers?

Adolescents with congenital heart disease had similar menstrual cycles and period pain to healthy controls. However, healthy controls were significantly more likely to miss school due to period pain and experienced more premenstrual bloating, anxiety, and mood swings.

Cohort study, 2026

In girls with familial Mediterranean fever, are menstrual symptoms disease flares or just period discomfort?

In 38% of girls with this condition, menstruation appeared to trigger disease flares. However, many symptoms during menstruation were likely normal menstrual discomfort or PMS rather than true disease attacks.

Non-randomised trial, 2026

Does mindfulness-based stress reduction reduce stress in teenagers with premenstrual syndrome?

Yes. Eight sessions of mindfulness training over four weeks reduced stress levels in teenagers receiving it compared to a control group.

Randomised trial, 2026

Does yoga or foot reflexology work better for teenage PMS?

Yes, both work. Yoga reduced PMS scores by 24.27 points and foot reflexology by 18.25 points, with yoga being significantly better.

Survey study, 2026

Are women who feel mood changes from birth control pills at higher risk for PMDD and postpartum depression?

Yes. Women who reported mood problems from the pill were 3.78 times more likely to have PMDD and 1.66 times more likely to have depression after childbirth, though genetic factors and depression history also matter.

Review, 2026

How do social factors like stigma and unequal care responsibilities affect premenstrual symptoms?

This review shows that PMS and PMDD arise from both biology and social context. Menstrual stigma, unequal care work, violence, financial dependence, and healthcare bias all shape how symptoms develop and whether women get help.

Survey study, 2026

How common is PMS in adolescent girls and what lifestyle factors cause it?

71.3% of adolescent girls had PMS. Poor diet (junk food) and lack of physical activity were strongly associated with developing PMS.

Case-control study, 2026

Do girls with familial Mediterranean fever have more PMS symptoms?

Overall they have fewer PMS symptoms, but the symptoms they do have are linked to inflammation and disease activity.

Survey study, 2026

How common are severe PMS and PMDD in young women, and what are the risk factors?

About 26% had moderate to severe PMS and 7.3% had PMDD. Risk factors included not exercising, living in rural areas, starting periods early, and not getting enough sleep.

Survey study, 2026

What factors are linked with period pain in teenage girls in Ethiopia?

Period pain affects about 7 in 10 teenage girls in this Ethiopian town. It is significantly linked with family history of period pain, having premenstrual syndrome, sleeping 6 hours or less per night, heavy menstrual periods, skipping breakfast, and female genital mutilation.

Systematic review, 2026

What life experiences and personal factors influence how severe PMS is?

Adverse childhood experiences, stress, personality traits, and coping styles can worsen PMS. Physical exercise, social support, and resilience protect against severe symptoms. Research on these connections is very limited.

Non-randomised trial, 2026

Does a lifestyle education program reduce PMS symptoms?

Yes. An education program on diet, exercise, and relaxation significantly reduced PMS severity and improved depression. Effects on anxiety and stress were not significant.

Survey study, 2026

Does following a gluten-free diet reduce PMS symptoms in teenagers with celiac disease?

Yes. Teenagers with celiac disease who strictly follow a gluten-free diet had much lower PMS scores than those who don't follow it, especially in depression, pain, sleep, and concentration.

Survey study, 2026

How does menstruation affect girls' participation in organized sports?

Most girls reported that menstruation affected their sports performance and attendance. About 91 percent noted skill changes, 77 percent effort changes, and 58 percent attendance changes. Fatigue, mood, and pain were most common, and 18 percent were worried enough to consider quitting.

Randomised trial, 2026

Is yoga or aerobic exercise better for reducing PMS symptoms in adolescent girls?

Both yoga and aerobic exercise significantly reduced PMS symptoms and pain intensity. Neither was superior to the other, so either could be recommended as an effective non-drug treatment.

Survey study, 2025

Do menstrual problems and poor sleep affect mood and thinking in teenage girls?

Yes. Clear links exist between menstrual pain or PMS symptoms and anxiety, depression, and social problems in adolescent girls. Sleep also matters. Girls with later bedtimes or shorter sleep plus pain had worse mood and thinking problems.

Survey study, 2025

Is premenstrual syndrome severity linked to academic performance in adolescent girls?

More severe premenstrual syndrome was significantly associated with poorer academic performance (p < 0.001). However, the study cannot prove that PMS causes poor grades; stress might cause both, or other factors might explain the link.

Survey study, 2025

Is a negative attitude toward menstruation linked to worse PMS symptoms?

Yes. Girls with a negative attitude toward menstruation were 31% more likely to report severe PMS than those with positive attitudes. Culture, family structure, religion, and maternal education also affect both attitudes and PMS severity.

Survey study, 2025

What behavioral symptoms of premenstrual syndrome are most common?

Most women studied (519 out of 650) experienced at least one premenstrual symptom, with insomnia, confusion, difficulty concentrating, and avoiding social situations being most common. These behavioral symptoms were the top concerns for women with PMS.

Non-randomised trial, 2025

Does doing aquatic activities help reduce PMS symptoms in teenage girls?

Yes, girls who participated in aquatic activities had significantly fewer PMS symptoms than those who did no water exercise.

Randomised trial, 2025

Does aerobic exercise with lifestyle changes reduce PMS symptoms in college students?

Yes, aerobic exercise combined with lifestyle changes significantly reduced PMS severity and improved quality of life compared to lifestyle counselling alone.

Non-randomised trial, 2025

Do cashew nuts help reduce PMS symptoms by increasing serotonin?

Women who ate 70 grams of cashew nuts daily for 2 weeks showed increases in serotonin and reductions in PMS symptoms compared to women who did not eat them. The sample was small and lasted only 2 weeks, so we need more research to know if this works long-term.

Randomised trial, 2025

Does pumpkin seed extract reduce PMS pain?

Yes, pumpkin seed extract at 500 mg twice daily for 10 days significantly reduced PMS pain intensity more than lower doses or placebo.