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Prevalence and epidemiology: what the research says

970 studies on prevalence and epidemiology in PMS and PMDD, each explained in plain English. 46 of them use the strongest designs: randomised trials and systematic reviews.

Survey study 687Cohort study 125Case-control study 42Systematic review 31Randomised trial 19Study 19
Cohort study, 2026

Is PMS becoming more common and more disabling worldwide?

Yes. Globally, PMS cases rose 49.88% and the disability caused by PMS rose 49.46% between 1990 and 2021. This trend is expected to continue through 2035.

Systematic review, 2026

How often do mood disorders and PMS or PMDD occur together?

Very often. Between 42% and 49% of women have both PMS or PMDD and a mood disorder at the same time, depending on which condition was diagnosed first.

Cohort study, 2026

Does having PMS before pregnancy increase the risk of postpartum depression?

Yes. Women with a PMS history were 45 percent more likely to develop postpartum depression within one year after birth, with 5.4 percent of women with PMS developing it compared to 3.8 percent without PMS.

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

Does having PCOS raise the risk of premenstrual disorders like PMS or PMDD?

Yes. Women with PCOS had a higher risk of being diagnosed with a premenstrual disorder than women without PCOS, and this held up even when comparing sisters to each other.

Cohort study, 2025

Do women with premenstrual disorders have higher risk of heart disease?

Yes. Women with premenstrual disorders have about 10-11% higher risk of cardiovascular disease compared to women without premenstrual disorders. This risk is higher if the disorder began before age 25 or occurred alongside perinatal depression.

Cohort study, 2025

Do women with premenstrual disorders take more sick leave and have higher unemployment?

Yes. Women with premenstrual disorders have 40% higher risk of taking sick leave and 27% higher risk of unemployment compared to women without the disorder. The risk is even higher for longer absences and depression-related leave.

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

Are PMS and PMDD more common in highly trained female athletes than in women who don't train intensively?

Female athletes had somewhat lower PMS rates and somewhat higher PMDD rates than non-athletes, but neither finding was statistically significant. We cannot be confident in these findings.

Systematic review, 2025

How common are PMS, PMDD, and painful periods in nursing students, and do they affect their schooling?

PMS affects 62% of nursing students, and 21% have PMDD or severe PMS, while 72% experience painful periods, disrupting their studies and wellbeing. These students need institutional support and evidence-based treatment.

Systematic review, 2025

How common is PMS in China?

About 48% of Chinese women have PMS (confidence interval 44-53%), making it a common health issue. Rates vary widely depending on how it's measured and the region studied.

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.

Case-control study, 2024

Are premenstrual disorders and postpartum depression connected?

Yes, they are connected both ways. Women with premenstrual disorders are 4.76 times more likely to develop postpartum depression. Women with postpartum depression are 1.81 times more likely to develop premenstrual disorders later.

Systematic review, 2024

How common is PMDD?

PMDD affects 3.2% of women when diagnosed with confirmed criteria and 7.7% when using provisional diagnosis. This means PMDD is less common than some estimates suggest.

Cohort study, 2023

Is PMDD a valid medical diagnosis?

Yes. PMDD is recognized by the World Health Organization and American Psychiatric Association as a distinct medical diagnosis. Evidence suggests it has real neurobiological basis, though more biological research is still needed to fully understand it.

Systematic review, 2023

How many women in Turkey have PMS?

About 52.2% of Turkish reproductive age women have PMS. Rates vary by group: 59% of high school students, 50.3% of university students, and 66% of women in the general population.

Systematic review, 2023

Does body composition affect premenstrual syndrome symptoms?

Yes. Higher body weight and more central fat around the belly and hips are linked to more PMS symptoms, more severe symptoms, and higher risk of depression and anxiety in women with PMS.

Systematic review, 2023

Is PMDD linked to depression?

PMDD and depression are strongly linked. Nearly all studies found that people with PMDD were more likely to have depression, and people with depression were more likely to have PMDD.

Systematic review, 2023

How common are menstrual cycle problems and PMS or PMDD in female athletes?

Menstrual cycle problems are common in female athletes, with dysmenorrhoea affecting about 32%. More athletes report symptoms during their period than in the days before.

Systematic review, 2022

What factors increase risk of period pain and PMS symptoms?

Stress, poor sleep, late bedtimes, low weight, and family history increase risk. Smoking makes symptoms more severe. Most of these factors can be modified through lifestyle changes.

Survey study, 2022

Does physical activity or obesity affect the risk of developing PMS?

Physical activity lowers PMS risk, while obesity raises it slightly. These findings come from combining results from 13 studies across multiple continents.

Cohort study, 2022

How common is PMS in working women and what factors increase the risk?

PMS developed in 7% of Korean working women over 8 years. Women who were very young (15-19), manual workers, had anemia, or were underweight had significantly higher risk.

Systematic review, 2022

What increases the risk of depression after childbirth?

Premenstrual syndrome is the strongest known risk factor for postpartum depression, nearly doubling the risk. Violent experiences and unintended pregnancy are also strong risk factors.

Cohort study, 2021

Do women with premenstrual disorders have a higher risk of injury?

Yes. Women with premenstrual disorders were at higher risk of injury (37% higher), particularly suicidal behavior (2.26 times higher) and accidents (32% higher). These risks were strongest in the first 2 years after diagnosis.

Cohort study, 2021

Does having PMS before pregnancy increase the risk of postpartum depression?

Yes. Women with frequent PMS before pregnancy had higher risk of postpartum depression after birth, with the risk rising as PMS became more frequent.

Systematic review, 2021

How common are PMS and PMDD among women in India?

Very common. About 43% of Indian women have PMS and 8% have PMDD, with even higher rates of 49.6% in adolescents.

Cohort study, 2021

Are low antioxidant vitamins or high oxidative stress linked to premenstrual syndrome?

This study found that oxidative stress markers were linked to more depression and food cravings symptoms and more severe PMS, but antioxidant vitamin levels were mostly not associated with PMS symptoms.

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, 2019

Is there a link between premenstrual syndrome and depression after childbirth?

Most studies found a link between PMS and postpartum depression, though some found this link disappeared when other factors like personality were considered. The connection appears real but may depend on circumstances.

Guideline, 2019

How should doctors treat PMS and PMDD?

Treatment should be tailored to each woman's symptoms and life stage. Options include therapy, herbs, antidepressants, birth control to stop ovulation, and water pills.

Review, 2018

Which women are most likely to experience hot flashes during menopause?

Up to 80% of women experience hot flashes during menopause, lasting about 10 years on average. Black and Hispanic women are more likely to experience them, while Asian women are less likely.

Systematic review, 2017

What risk factors are associated with asthma worsening before the period?

Women with premenstrual asthma tend to be older, have more severe asthma, higher body weight, longer asthma duration, and are more prone to aspirin-triggered asthma. They also more often have painful periods, PMS, shorter menstrual cycles, and longer bleeding.

Survey study, 2016

Is PMS or PMDD linked to eating disorders like bulimia and binge eating?

Yes. Women with PMDD had 7 times higher odds of bulimia nervosa and women with PMS had 2.5 times higher odds of bulimia, but neither was strongly linked to binge-eating disorder.

Cohort study, 2015

Do women with PMS have a higher risk of developing hypertension later?

Yes, women with PMS had 1.4 times higher risk of developing hypertension, with 3.3 times higher risk before age 40. This prospective study with long follow-up provides strong evidence.

Cohort study, 2014

Does childhood abuse increase the risk of PMS in adulthood?

Yes, women with childhood emotional abuse had 2.6 times higher PMS risk, and those with physical abuse had 2.1 times higher risk. This 14-year prospective study provides strong evidence.

Systematic review, 2014

How common is premenstrual syndrome in women?

About 47.8% of women have PMS, though rates vary widely by country, from 12% in France to 98% in Iran. Prevalence did not increase significantly from 1996 to 2011.

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.

Case-control study, 2014

How common is severe period pain and what causes it?

Period pain affects 16% to 91% of women of reproductive age, with severe pain in 2% to 29%. It's less common as women age, after having children, and when using birth control pills, but more common with stress or family history of it.

Survey study, 2011

What premenstrual symptoms do women experience around the world and how much do they affect daily life?

The most common symptoms are abdominal bloating, cramps, irritability, breast tenderness, and muscle or back pain. Physical and mental symptoms have similar effects on daily activities.

Survey study, 2011

Is premenstrual syndrome related to major depression?

Yes. Women with moderate to severe PMS are significantly more likely to have depression (11.3% to 24.6% depending on PMS severity). Women with both conditions are more severely impaired than those with either alone.

Cohort study, 2004

Do women with PMS have worse menopausal symptoms?

Yes, women with PMS are significantly more likely to experience hot flushes, depression, poor sleep, and low libido during menopause. This large five-year study provides strong evidence for this connection.

Randomised trial, 2000

How should PMDD be diagnosed and treated?

PMDD is a distinct condition from regular PMS, characterized by mood symptoms like irritability and anger. SSRIs taken daily or only during the menstrual cycle are first-line treatment and work very well with minimal side effects.

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.

Survey study, 1992

How common are severe premenstrual symptoms in the general population of women?

Severe or moderately severe mood symptoms were not significantly more common in the premenstrual phase than mid-cycle in this large population study. Only 1% of mood symptoms in the population can be attributed to the premenstrual state.

Randomised trial, 1989

Does danazol help severe PMS symptoms?

Yes, most PMS symptoms improved more with danazol than placebo, though there were minor side effects. A double-blind controlled study provides good evidence.

Survey study, 2026

What are the causes, diagnosis, and treatments for PMS and PMDD?

This review consolidates what doctors know about PMS and PMDD. PMS affects 12-98% of reproductive-age women and PMDD affects 2-5%. Treatments range from lifestyle changes, therapy, and vitamins to medications like SSRIs and oral contraceptives.

Cohort study, 2026

Is wanting to get pregnant linked to worse PMDD symptoms?

No. Among full-time working women, wanting to get pregnant was not linked to having PMDD, though it was weakly linked to slightly higher symptom scores.

Case-control study, 2026

Does PMS increase the risk of depression after childbirth in women with a history of depression?

Yes. Women with PMS had a 45.5% rate of postpartum depression compared to 22.5% without PMS, making it 2.87 times more likely.

Survey study, 2026

Is PMS worse in medical students with higher stress?

Yes. Medical students with high stress are much more likely to have moderate to severe PMS. About 26.5% of students had moderate to severe PMS overall.

Survey study, 2026

Do people with ADHD traits have higher rates of PMDD than others?

Yes, people with ADHD traits had significantly higher risk of PMDD. People with autism traits did not show a higher risk of PMDD.

Survey study, 2026

Does COVID-19 infection or depression affect menstrual periods?

Yes, clearly. Both COVID-19 infection and moderate to severe depression were linked to menstrual changes. About 38% of the female students experienced menstrual dysfunction.

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.

Survey study, 2026

How has the global burden of PMS and uterine fibroids changed since 1990, and where is it heading by 2050?

Worldwide, an estimated 233 million women had PMS in 2023, and both PMS and uterine fibroids have become slightly more common since 1990, with uterine fibroids rising faster and expected to keep rising sharply through 2050.

Survey study, 2026

Is academic stress linked to PMS severity in university students?

Yes, clearly. Higher stress levels were linked to worse PMS symptoms.

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.

Study, 2026

What do women in Lahore know about PMDD and do they seek help for it?

About 1 in 10 women in this group had PMDD, and about half understood it well. Although most women had positive attitudes toward treatment, most did not actually see a doctor about it.

Survey study, 2026

What lifestyle and work factors are linked to PMDD symptoms in Chinese nurses?

42.4% of Chinese nurses have PMDD symptoms. Risk is higher in those who work night shifts, do not exercise, drink alcohol, are overweight in a certain range, or have depression, anxiety, or poor sleep.

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.