---
title: Do lifestyle changes like exercise and eating better help PMS symptoms?
description: Yes, women who made lifestyle changes had a significant decrease in PMS symptoms, but without a comparison group, we cannot be certain the improvements were d
url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/efficacy-of-self-care-measures-for-perimenstrual-syndrome-pms-1990/
---

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- Do lifestyle changes like exercise and eating better help PMS symptoms?

Non-randomised trial, 1990

# Do lifestyle changes like exercise and eating better help PMS symptoms?

Yes, women who made lifestyle changes had a significant decrease in PMS symptoms, but without a comparison group, we cannot be certain the improvements were due to the lifestyle changes.

 Early or limited evidence

Women with PMS symptoms.

## What they did

A quasi-experimental study using a pre-test and post-test design. Women were taught self-care measures for PMS, focusing on lifestyle changes including better nutrition and exercise. Symptoms were measured before and after the intervention.

## What they found

Women who increased their self-care measures showed a significant decrease in PMS symptoms. The study notes that over 90 percent of women experience one or more PMS symptoms, and that PMS causes disruptions at work and in family relationships.

## What it means for you

Making lifestyle changes such as eating better and exercising more may help reduce PMS symptoms. However, without a comparison group, improvements could be due to other factors like increased attention to health or the passage of time, rather than the lifestyle changes themselves. The study did not provide specific nutrition or exercise guidelines.

90

Percentage of women affected by one or more PMS symptoms

## About the study

Original title Efficacy of self-care measures for perimenstrual syndrome (PMS) Authors Kirkpatrick MK, Brewer JA, Stocks B Journal Journal of advanced nursing Year 1990 Study design Non-randomised trial What was tested Lifestyle modifications, particularly nutrition and exercise. Read the paper [doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2648.1990.tb01814.x](https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2648.1990.tb01814.x)

## Topics

[Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pms/)[Exercise and yoga](https://niyora.com/research/topics/treatment-exercise/)[Diet and nutrition](https://niyora.com/research/topics/treatment-diet/)[Economic burden](https://niyora.com/research/topics/life-area-economic-burden/)

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Calm down, see it another way, and decide what to say, with a PMS and PMDD app built by a doctor.

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