---
title: Do early-life exposures like antibiotics or breastfeeding affect PMS risk?
description: Yes. Long-term antibiotic use, earlier puberty, maternal smoking, and not being breastfed were linked to higher PMS odds. But only 0.07% of the study had PMS,
url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/early-life-exposures-and-risk-of-multiple-gynecological-diseases-evidence-from-a-2026/
---

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- Do early-life exposures like antibiotics or breastfeeding affect PMS risk?

Cohort study, 2026

# Do early-life exposures like antibiotics or breastfeeding affect PMS risk?

Yes. Long-term antibiotic use, earlier puberty, maternal smoking, and not being breastfed were linked to higher PMS odds. But only 0.07% of the study had PMS, so findings need careful interpretation.

 Moderate study design

272,706 women from the UK Biobank cohort.

## What they did

This study examined 272,706 women from the UK Biobank using hospital records and self-reports. Researchers looked at six early-life factors: antibiotic use, birth weight, multiple birth, breastfeeding, age at first period, and maternal smoking. They used regression analysis adjusted for age, ethnicity, education, deprivation, and smoking.

## What they found

Among 272,706 women, 0.07% had PMS. After adjusting for confounders, long-term/recurrent antibiotic use, earlier menarche, maternal smoking around birth, and not being breastfed were all associated with higher odds of PMS. Earlier menarche and antibiotic use were linked to several other gynecological conditions too.

## What it means for you

Some early-life factors like breastfeeding might reduce PMS risk, but because very few women (0.07%) had PMS, the results should be interpreted cautiously. Most factors cannot be changed. More research is needed to confirm these associations are real and whether changing anything would actually prevent PMS.

272,706

women studied

0.07%

had PMS

6

early-life factors examined

## About the study

Original title Early-life exposures and risk of multiple gynecological diseases: evidence from a large community-based study of 272,706 women Authors Jiang J, Fu Y, Chen Y et al. Journal BMC women's health Year 2026 Study design Cohort study Participants 272,706 What was tested None - observational study. Open access Yes Read the paper [doi.org/10.1186/s12905-026-04646-1](https://doi.org/10.1186/s12905-026-04646-1)

## Topics

[Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pms/)[Alcohol, smoking and substance use](https://niyora.com/research/topics/comorbidity-substance-use/)[Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/comorbidity-pcos/)[Endometriosis](https://niyora.com/research/topics/comorbidity-endometriosis/)[Adolescents and young people](https://niyora.com/research/topics/life-area-adolescents/)

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