How common is premenstrual syndrome and what are its main symptoms in female medical students?

Background. One of the most common problems of menstrual cycle disorders in women in countries all over the world is premenstrual syndrome (PMS). The aim of the study is to establish the frequency and dominant symptoms of premenstrual syndrome in female students of the medical university of the Altai Territory. Material and methods. A continuous blinded electronic survey (Google form) of 152 female medical students of the 4th-5th years was conducted. The author's questionnaire included a premenstrual syndrome validated questionnaire from the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. Results. Premenstrual syndrome was revealed in 77.6% of respondents. The most common symptoms were decreased mood (84.2%), decreased performance (65.1%), anxiety and/or muscle tension (83.6%), mastalgia/mastodynia (73.6%). The majority of respondents noted the above-mentioned pathological symptoms and a significant decrease in quality of life and performance 7-10 days before the onset of menstruation (72.0%). Moderate premenstrual syndrome was detected in 15.3% of cases. The percentage of female students seeking medical help because of premenstrual syndrome was 39.5%. Conclusions. The examined female medical students are a risk group for developing PMS.

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