Randomised trial, 1999
What are women's own views about premenstrual syndrome?
Women see PMS as part of their menstrual cycle experience rather than a separate disease. Most do not find it severely debilitating and value having multiple treatment options and support from other women.
What they did
Semi-structured individual interviews with 13 women and group discussions with 33 women, plus feedback from 5 health visitors on the findings from Northern Ireland.
What they found
Seven key themes emerged. Women view the menstrual cycle holistically. Only a small minority find PMS severely debilitating. They are ambivalent about menstruation, seeing it as both natural and unnatural in daily life. Talking with other women helps them compare experiences and get support. Women felt menstruation could be disempowering due to its uncontrollability, but a positive attitude and access to various remedies helped them cope.
What it means for you
Women's own views of PMS differ from how doctors and medical textbooks describe it. Doctors should offer women a range of treatment choices and support groups rather than just standard medical approaches.
13
women interviewed individually
33
women in group discussions
7
themes identified
About the study
- Original title
- A qualitative investigation of women's perceptions of premenstrual syndrome: implications for general practitioners
- Authors
- Reilly J, Kremer J
- Journal
- The British journal of general practice : the journal of the Royal College of General Practitioners
- Year
- 1999
- Study design
- Randomised trial
- Participants
- 33
- What was tested
- Qualitative interviews and group discussions
- Open access
- Yes
- Read the paper
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/10885080/
Topics
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