--- title: Do PMS symptoms ease once your period starts, and does diet make them worse? description: Yes, many PMS symptoms were significantly less severe after menstruation began, and eating more sugar or fat was linked to worse irritability and tension, whi url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/assessment-of-changes-in-premenstrual-syndrome-pms-before-and-after-menstruation-2025/ --- - [Niyora](https://niyora.com/) - [Research](https://niyora.com/research/) - [Library](https://niyora.com/research/library/) - Do PMS symptoms ease once your period starts, and does diet make them worse? Survey study, 2025 # Do PMS symptoms ease once your period starts, and does diet make them worse? Yes, many PMS symptoms were significantly less severe after menstruation began, and eating more sugar or fat was linked to worse irritability and tension, while multi-nutrient supplements and higher education seemed to help, in this Bangladeshi study of 400 women. Early or limited evidence 400 women aged 18 to 45 in Tangail, Bangladesh. ## What they did Researchers surveyed 400 women aged 18 to 45 in Tangail, Bangladesh, chosen through purposive sampling, using a questionnaire covering demographics, diet, and psychological, behavioral, and physical PMS symptoms. They compared symptom severity before and after menstruation. ## What they found Common symptoms included irritability (62.81%), tiredness (71.32%), and abdominal pain (66.90%). Several symptoms, including irritability, nervousness, insomnia, tiredness, headache, and back pain, significantly decreased after menstruation (p<0.05). Older age (AOR=1.03) and higher BMI (AOR=1.02) raised the odds of severe irritation, while higher education was protective. High sugar intake raised the odds of severe irritability (AOR=2.26) and tension (AOR=1.63); high fat intake was also linked to tension and irritability. Multi-nutrient supplements appeared to protect against severe irritation. ## What it means for you This supports the idea that PMS symptoms are tied to the hormonal shift around menstruation, and suggests diet quality may affect how bad symptoms feel. However, it is a one-time survey from a single region in Bangladesh based on self-report, so it cannot prove that diet actually causes symptom changes, and the findings may not apply to other populations. 71.32% Reported tiredness 62.81% Reported irritability AOR 2.26 Odds ratio for severe irritability with high sugar intake ## About the study Original title Assessment of changes in premenstrual syndrome (PMS) before and after menstruation: A cross sectional study in Tangail, Bangladesh Authors Md. Rakibul Hasan, Ielias Uddin, Mesbah Uddin Talukder et al. Journal Journal of Public Health and Development Year 2025 Study design Survey study Participants 400 What was tested None tested directly; the study looked at associations between diet, nutrient supplements, and PMS symptom severity. Open access Yes Read the paper [doi.org/10.55131/jphd/2025/230206](https://doi.org/10.55131/jphd/2025/230206) ## Topics [Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pms/)[Menstrual cycle and mood](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-cycle-mood/)[Anxiety and tension](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-anxiety/)[Irritability and anger](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-irritability-anger/)[Sleep and insomnia](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-sleep/)[Fatigue and energy](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-fatigue/)[Pain and headache](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-pain/)[Diet and nutrition](https://niyora.com/research/topics/treatment-diet/) Research tells you what helps on average. Niyora helps on the day it hits. Calm down, see it another way, and decide what to say, with a PMS and PMDD app built by a doctor. ## Related studies Survey study, 2021 What factors affect premenstrual syndrome in teenage girls? Randomised trial, 2018 Does swimming reduce premenstrual syndrome symptoms? Survey study, 2026 Can changing your diet help with period and PMS symptoms like fatigue, mood swings and bloating? Survey study, 2026 Does eating more ultra-processed food make PMS symptoms worse? Survey study, 2025 Can a plant-based supplement reduce PMS symptoms? Survey study, 2024 What premenstrual symptoms are most common in working women? Ask AI about this page Copy prompt ChatGPT ↗ Claude ↗ Perplexity ↗ Google AI Mode ↗ Grok ↗