---
title: How much does premenstrual syndrome cost in medical care and lost work?
description: PMS diagnosis is associated with $59 more in annual healthcare costs and $4,333 more in annual lost work productivity compared to not having PMS.
url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/estimating-direct-and-indirect-costs-of-premenstrual-syndrome-2005/
---

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- How much does premenstrual syndrome cost in medical care and lost work?

Case-control study, 2005

# How much does premenstrual syndrome cost in medical care and lost work?

PMS diagnosis is associated with $59 more in annual healthcare costs and $4,333 more in annual lost work productivity compared to not having PMS.

 Early or limited evidence

374 women aged 18-45 with regular menstrual periods, of which 111 had PMS

## What they did

Case-control economic analysis of 374 women aged 18-45 with regular menstrual periods. Researchers used health insurance claims and Medicare Fee Schedule to calculate direct medical costs. They asked women to self-report days of work missed and reduced productivity at work to calculate indirect costs.

## What they found

Of the 374 women, 29.6% (111 women) were diagnosed with PMS. Women with PMS had an average annual increase of $59 in direct healthcare costs (P < 0.026) and $4,333 in indirect costs from lost work productivity (P < 0.0001) compared to women without PMS.

## What it means for you

The economic burden of PMS is primarily lost work productivity, not medical expenses. The study is relatively small and relies on women's self-reported work absences and productivity, which may not be accurate. The findings may not apply to all women or populations.

29.6%

Percentage diagnosed with PMS

$59

Annual increase in direct healthcare costs

$4,333

Annual increase in lost work productivity costs

## About the study

Original title Estimating direct and indirect costs of premenstrual syndrome Authors Borenstein J, Chiou CF, Dean B et al. Journal Journal of occupational and environmental medicine Year 2005 Study design Case-control study Participants 111 What was tested None (economic analysis) Read the paper [doi.org/10.1097/01.jom.0000150209.44312.d1](https://doi.org/10.1097/01.jom.0000150209.44312.d1)

## Topics

[Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pms/)[Work and productivity](https://niyora.com/research/topics/life-area-work/)[Economic burden](https://niyora.com/research/topics/life-area-economic-burden/)

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