Cohort study, 2011
Do Spanish women seek medical advice for premenstrual symptoms?
About three-quarters of Spanish women experience premenstrual symptoms, but only 18.7% seek medical advice. Most did not seek help because they thought symptoms were normal.
What they did
Cross-sectional survey of 2018 Spanish women aged 15-49. Participants were interviewed at home and completed a premenstrual symptoms screening tool.
What they found
1554 women (73.7%) reported premenstrual symptoms during the previous 12 menstrual cycles. 8.9% had moderate or severe PMS and 1.1% had PMDD. Only 291 women (18.7%) had sought medical advice. 90.6% of symptomatic women who did not seek advice said it was because they thought symptoms were normal.
What it means for you
Most women with PMS do not seek help because they consider symptoms normal. Even among those seeking help, many did not receive adequate treatment. The study was limited to Spanish women so results may differ elsewhere.
73.7%
Women with premenstrual symptoms
8.9%
Moderate or severe PMS
18.7%
Sought medical advice
About the study
- Original title
- Attitudes of Spanish women toward premenstrual symptoms, premenstrual syndrome and premenstrual dysphoric disorder: results of a nationwide survey
- Authors
- Lete I, Dueñas JL, Serrano I et al.
- Journal
- European journal of obstetrics, gynecology, and reproductive biology
- Year
- 2011
- Study design
- Cohort study
- Participants
- 1,554
- What was tested
- None
- Open access
- Yes
- Read the paper
- doi.org/10.1016/j.ejogrb.2011.06.041
Topics
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