---
title: Does a combination of stress reduction, exercise, and diet help PMS?
description: Yes, a combination approach that includes stress reduction, increased exercise, and proper diet has been found effective for treating PMS. Medications can be
url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/biopsychosocial-approach-to-premenstrual-syndrome-1986/
---

- [Niyora](https://niyora.com/)
- [Research](https://niyora.com/research/)
- [Library](https://niyora.com/research/library/)
- Does a combination of stress reduction, exercise, and diet help PMS?

Study, 1986

# Does a combination of stress reduction, exercise, and diet help PMS?

Yes, a combination approach that includes stress reduction, increased exercise, and proper diet has been found effective for treating PMS. Medications can be added when needed.

 Early or limited evidence

28 women of childbearing age with PMS.

## What they did

28 women with PMS were treated with a combination of stress reduction, increased exercise, proper diet, empathic understanding from their healthcare provider, and medications added as needed.

## What they found

The combination approach was found effective in treating PMS.

## What it means for you

A combination of lifestyle changes such as stress reduction, exercise, and diet combined with caring support from healthcare providers may help PMS symptoms. The main limitation is the small number of women (28) and no comparison to other treatment approaches.

28

women with PMS

## About the study

Original title Biopsychosocial approach to premenstrual syndrome Authors Price WA, Dimarzio LR, Gardner PR Journal American family physician Year 1986 Study design Study Participants 28 What was tested Stress reduction, increased exercise, proper diet, empathic care, and medications. Read the paper [https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/3716964/](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/3716964/)

## Topics

[Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pms/)[Stress](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-stress/)[Diet and nutrition](https://niyora.com/research/topics/treatment-diet/)[Vitamin B6](https://niyora.com/research/topics/treatment-vitamin-b6/)[Diuretics and other drugs](https://niyora.com/research/topics/treatment-diuretics-other-drugs/)

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

Systematic review, 2007

What treatments work for premenstrual syndrome?

Study, 2002

Which PMS treatments have good scientific evidence?

Study, 2024

How do lifestyle factors like diet, exercise, and stress affect menstrual health and PMS?

Study, 2026

How can lifestyle changes help reduce premenstrual syndrome?

Cohort study, 2014

Do lifestyle and nutrition affect menstrual symptoms?

Review, 1998

What treatments actually help with PMS?

Ask AI about this page

Copy prompt

ChatGPT

↗

Claude

↗

Perplexity

↗

Google AI Mode

↗

Grok

↗