---
title: Does alcohol use change during the premenstrual phase, and how does it relate to PMS symptoms?
description: 8 of 14 women drank differently during the premenstrual phase. Women who drank more premenstrually had worse symptoms, especially anger and social problems, w
url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/alcohol-use-and-premenstrual-symptoms-in-social-drinkers-1990/
---

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- Does alcohol use change during the premenstrual phase, and how does it relate to PMS symptoms?

Survey study, 1990

# Does alcohol use change during the premenstrual phase, and how does it relate to PMS symptoms?

8 of 14 women drank differently during the premenstrual phase. Women who drank more premenstrually had worse symptoms, especially anger and social problems, while those who drank less reported more physical pain.

 Early or limited evidence

14 women, social drinkers

## What they did

14 women spent 35 days on a research ward where they could earn alcohol or money by completing tasks. A 7-day drug-free baseline was followed by 21 days when alcohol was available, then another 7-day drug-free period. Researchers measured premenstrual symptoms and tracked drinking patterns.

## What they found

8 of 14 women changed their alcohol use premenstrually. Of these, 5 drank more premenstrually and scored higher on 12 of 18 symptom factors with significantly worse hostility and anger, impaired social functioning, and hysteroid features (p less than 0.05, 0.01). 3 women drank less premenstrually and reported more pain and physical discomfort. 6 women whose drinking stayed the same were relatively asymptomatic.

## What it means for you

Some women appear to drink more as a response to premenstrual symptoms, particularly mood-related ones, which may then worsen their overall symptom profile. This study was very small (14 women) and conducted in an artificial hospital setting, so the results may not reflect real life.

14

women studied

8

changed drinking premenstrually

35

days of observation

## About the study

Original title Alcohol use and premenstrual symptoms in social drinkers Authors Mello NK, Mendelson JH, Lex BW Journal Psychopharmacology Year 1990 Study design Survey study Participants 6 What was tested Alcohol availability (21-day observation) Read the paper [doi.org/10.1007/bf02244221](https://doi.org/10.1007/bf02244221)

## Topics

[Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pms/)[Premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pmdd/)[Irritability and anger](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-irritability-anger/)[Alcohol, smoking and substance use](https://niyora.com/research/topics/comorbidity-substance-use/)

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