--- title: Is wanting to get pregnant linked to worse PMDD symptoms? | Niyora description: 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. url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/association-between-pregnancy-hope-and-premenstrual-dysphoric-disorder-among-2026/ --- - [Niyora](https://niyora.com/) - [Research](https://niyora.com/research/) - [Library](https://niyora.com/research/library/) - Is wanting to get pregnant linked to worse PMDD symptoms? 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. Moderate study design 1947 full-time working women aged 20-44 years who had never been pregnant, surveyed in Japan in October 2023 ## What they did Cross-sectional online survey in October 2023 of 1947 full-time working women aged 20-44 who had never been pregnant. They assessed PMDD diagnosis and symptom severity using a standard scale and examined the relationship with pregnancy hopes. ## What they found PMDD prevalence was 5.4% in women with pregnancy hope and 4.8% in women without (similar rates). Pregnancy hope was not associated with PMDD diagnosis. It was weakly associated with slightly higher symptom severity scores. Marital status did not change this relationship. ## What it means for you Wanting to get pregnant is not a risk factor for PMDD in this group of working women. The study is large and recent but is cross-sectional, so it cannot prove that pregnancy hope causes higher symptoms. Longitudinal studies are needed. 1947 women surveyed 5.4% PMDD prevalence with pregnancy hope 4.8% PMDD prevalence without pregnancy hope ## About the study Original title Association Between Pregnancy Hope and Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder Among Female Workers: A Cross-Sectional Online Survey in Japan Authors Ito Y, Sasaki N, Kanamori Y et al. Journal Neuropsychopharmacology reports Year 2026 Study design Cohort study Participants 1,947 What was tested None; observational survey Open access Yes Read the paper [doi.org/10.1002/npr2.70106](https://doi.org/10.1002/npr2.70106) Original abstract Objectives: This cross-sectional study examined the association between pregnancy hope and premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) outcomes among full-time working women. Methods: We analyzed an October 2023 survey of nulligravid women aged 20-44 years (N = 1947). PMDD diagnosis and symptom severity were assessed using a DSM-IV-based scale. Logistic and linear regression examined associations with pregnancy hope and tested interaction by marital status. Results: PMDD prevalence was 5.4% with pregnancy hope and 4.8% without. Pregnancy hope was not associated with PMDD diagnosis (crude OR = 1.13, 95% CI: 0.71-1.80) and remained null after adjustment. Pregnancy hope was weakly associated with higher symptom scores (crude standardized β = 0.059, p = 0.009), persisting after adjustment. Interaction by marital status was not significant. Conclusion: Among full-time workers, pregnancy hope was unrelated to PMDD diagnosis but was weakly associated with subthreshold symptom severity. Longitudinal studies that comprehensively assess multidimensional pregnancy intention, perceptions of menstruation, and work-related constraints are needed to clarify causal directionality and mechanisms. Reproduced under CC-BY. ## Topics [Premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pmdd/)[Low mood and depression](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-depression-mood/)[Pregnancy and postpartum](https://niyora.com/research/topics/comorbidity-postpartum/)[Work and productivity](https://niyora.com/research/topics/life-area-work/)[Relationships and partners](https://niyora.com/research/topics/life-area-relationships/) 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, 2022 What are the biggest research gaps in women's health, especially for menstrual conditions? Systematic review, 2022 Does having PMDD increase the risk of depression during pregnancy or after birth? Systematic review, 2026 Why do some women experience mood changes linked to their menstrual cycle? Cohort study, 2025 Is there a link between premenstrual disorders and autoimmune disease? Review, 2023 What treatments help mental and physical health problems linked to the menstrual cycle? Cohort study, 2023 Is PMDD a valid medical diagnosis? Ask AI about this page Copy prompt ChatGPT ↗ Claude ↗ Perplexity ↗ Google AI Mode ↗ Grok ↗