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Survey study, 2012

How common are PMS and PMDD, and how much do they affect women's lives?

PMS symptoms are very common in women during reproductive years. PMDD affects 3-8% of women and causes significant reductions in quality of life and daily activities.

Moderate study design Women of reproductive age (from multiple reviewed studies)

What they did

This is a review of published research on the prevalence of different premenstrual disorders and symptoms, and their impact on women's daily activities and quality of life.

What they found

The most severe disorder, PMDD, affects 3-8% of women of reproductive age. While PMDD focuses on psychological symptoms, the most prevalent premenstrual symptoms overall are physical. Both physical and psychological symptoms affect women's daily activities. Moderate to severe premenstrual disorders cause considerable burden of illness.

What it means for you

PMS is a frequent concern for women during reproductive years, especially when moderate to severe. Moderate to severe symptoms significantly impact work and daily activities. The main limitation is that prevalence numbers vary widely depending on how PMS and PMDD are defined in different studies.

3-8%

PMDD prevalence in women of reproductive age

About the study

Original title
Epidemiology of premenstrual symptoms and disorders
Authors
Dennerstein L, Lehert P, Heinemann K
Journal
Menopause international
Year
2012
Study design
Survey study
What was tested
None; literature review

Topics