---
title: Does alcohol or caffeine affect PMS? | Niyora
description: Alcohol consumption appears linked to PMS, particularly drinking during the symptom-free part of the menstrual cycle. Women who drank 10 or more drinks per we
url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/association-between-alcoholic-and-caffeinated-beverages-and-premenstrual-1993/
---

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- Does alcohol or caffeine affect PMS?

Case-control study, 1993

# Does alcohol or caffeine affect PMS?

Alcohol consumption appears linked to PMS, particularly drinking during the symptom-free part of the menstrual cycle. Women who drank 10 or more drinks per week were much more likely to have moderate to severe PMS. Caffeine showed no clear link to PMS.

 Moderate study design

102 women with PMS and 102 women without PMS, matched by age and race

## What they did

A case-control study compared 102 women with PMS to 102 women without PMS matched by age and race. Researchers measured how much alcohol and caffeine each woman consumed during the symptom-free period and during the 2 weeks before her period.

## What they found

Women with PMS drank about 1.41 more servings of alcohol per week during the symptom-free period than women without PMS. Women drinking 10 or more drinks per week were much more likely to have moderate to severe PMS. The pattern was also seen with alcohol consumed during the 2 weeks before the period, though weaker. Caffeine intake was similar in both groups.

## What it means for you

More drinking in the symptom-free period is linked with having PMS, suggesting drinking is not simply a response to symptoms. However, this only shows a connection, not that alcohol causes PMS. The study is from 1993, so current drinking patterns may differ.

102

women with PMS

102

women without PMS

1.41

additional alcohol servings per week (postmenstrual)

## About the study

Original title Association between alcoholic and caffeinated beverages and premenstrual syndrome Authors Caan B, Duncan D, Hiatt R et al. Journal The Journal of reproductive medicine Year 1993 Study design Case-control study What was tested None - observational study of drinking patterns Read the paper [https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/8410870/](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/8410870/)

## Topics

[Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pms/)[Diet and nutrition](https://niyora.com/research/topics/treatment-diet/)[Alcohol, smoking and substance use](https://niyora.com/research/topics/comorbidity-substance-use/)

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