---
title: Can a simple symptom tracker over 2 to 3 cycles identify which women have PMS?
description: Yes. Tracking 6 common symptoms every day for 2 to 3 cycles can identify women whose symptoms cluster before their period, which may indicate true PMS.
url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/factors-influencing-the-cyclical-symptoms-relating-to-the-menstrual-cycle-1988/
---

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- Can a simple symptom tracker over 2 to 3 cycles identify which women have PMS?

Survey study, 1988

# Can a simple symptom tracker over 2 to 3 cycles identify which women have PMS?

Yes. Tracking 6 common symptoms every day for 2 to 3 cycles can identify women whose symptoms cluster before their period, which may indicate true PMS.

 Early or limited evidence

134 women tracked over 346 menstrual cycles

## What they did

134 women weighed themselves at the same time each day and tracked 6 common symptoms every day for multiple cycles (346 cycles total). They also reported their pain relievers, medications, age, and smoking habits.

## What they found

Women fell into three groups based on symptom patterns. Group A had almost no symptoms. Group B had symptoms clustered toward the end of the cycle. Group C had symptoms throughout the month. Women in Group B had larger weight changes before their period. Pain reliever use was similar across all three groups.

## What it means for you

A simple daily tracker over just 2 to 3 cycles could help identify women who have true PMS (with symptoms clustered before the period) versus those without it or with symptoms throughout the month. This could help researchers choose the right women for future PMS treatment studies. We don't know if symptoms change over longer time periods.

134

women tracked

346

menstrual cycles analyzed

6

symptoms tracked daily

## About the study

Original title Factors influencing the cyclical symptoms relating to the menstrual cycle Authors Simpson LO, Shand BI, Nyhof RB Journal The New Zealand medical journal Year 1988 Study design Survey study Participants 3 What was tested None - this tested a symptom tracking method Read the paper [https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/3368129/](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/3368129/)

## Topics

[Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pms/)[Pain and headache](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-pain/)[Alcohol, smoking and substance use](https://niyora.com/research/topics/comorbidity-substance-use/)

Research tells you what helps on average. Niyora helps on the day it hits.

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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