--- title: What prevents women from seeking doctor's help for PMS? | Niyora description: The biggest barrier is fear that doctors will not take symptoms seriously or will dismiss them. Lack of awareness about whether symptoms are serious enough an url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/identification-and-evaluation-of-barriers-and-facilitators-to-formal-help-2026/ --- - [Niyora](https://niyora.com/) - [Research](https://niyora.com/research/) - [Library](https://niyora.com/research/library/) - What prevents women from seeking doctor's help for PMS? Interview study, 2026 # What prevents women from seeking doctor's help for PMS? The biggest barrier is fear that doctors will not take symptoms seriously or will dismiss them. Lack of awareness about whether symptoms are serious enough and whether treatments work also prevents help-seeking. Moderate study design 592 people in the UK with premenstrual symptoms ## What they did Mixed-methods study where 592 people in the UK completed an online survey about whether they sought formal help for premenstrual symptoms. Researchers compared 253 people who never sought help and 339 who had. Participants answered questions about barriers and helpful factors. Responses were analyzed both with statistics and themes. ## What they found 42.74% (n=253) had never sought formal help for premenstrual symptoms, while 57.26% (n=339) had. Concern that healthcare professionals would not take symptoms seriously or would be dismissive was the most common and strongest barrier. Non-help-seekers were more likely to think professional care would be ineffective and preferred solving problems alone. Previous help-seekers cited poor past experiences as a barrier. Lack of awareness and education, including uncertainty about whether symptoms were severe enough to seek care, was the most frequently reported barrier in qualitative responses. ## What it means for you Fear of being dismissed by doctors is the main reason women don't seek help for PMS. Many women are unsure whether their symptoms are serious enough or whether treatments work. Improving education about PMS and how doctors interact with women about symptoms could help more women get care. This study was done in the UK, so results may differ in other countries. 42.74% never sought help 57.26% sought help 592 participants ## About the study Original title Identification and evaluation of barriers and facilitators to formal help-seeking for premenstrual symptoms in the UK: a mixed methods approach Authors Funnell EL, Martin-Key NA, Jones C et al. Journal Frontiers in global women's health Year 2026 Study design Interview study Participants 339 What was tested None (barriers study) Open access Yes Read the paper [doi.org/10.3389/fgwh.2026.1740226](https://doi.org/10.3389/fgwh.2026.1740226) Original abstract Introduction: Premenstrual symptoms are common physical, psychological, and behavioural symptoms that occur before the onset of menstruation. Despite their cyclical nature, these symptoms can be severe and burdensome, potentially interfering with daily life. Although interventions are available, help-seeking remains infrequent, raising questions about the barriers to engaging in formal care. This study employed a mixed-methods approach to examine both barriers and facilitators to help-seeking and assess their relative impact. Methods: An online survey was developed, incorporating questions about premenstrual symptoms and quantitative and qualitative questions on barriers and facilitators to formal help-seeking. Participants included both previous help-seekers and non-help-seekers to allow for group comparisons. Data were collected from 592 UK-based participants. Quantitative data were analysed descriptively, with group differences assessed using Mann-Whitney U and Chi-square tests, as appropriate. Qualitative responses were analysed using thematic analysis. Results: 42.74% ( n = 253) had not previously sought formal help for premenstrual symptoms, while 57.26% ( n = 339) had. Overall, the most common and strongest barrier to help-seeking regarded concerns that healthcare professionals (HCPs) would not take symptoms seriously or would act dismissively. Significant group differences were observed in the barriers endorsed, with non-help-seekers being more likely to think professional care would be ineffective and wanting to solve problems on their own. Previous help-seekers were more likely to endorse previous poor care experiences as a barrier. Qualitative analysis revealed that anticipated HCP knowledge and attitudes, along with lack of awareness and education, were the most frequently reported barriers. Among non-help-seekers, improving education and awareness was commonly cited as a potential facilitator of formal help-seeking. Discussion: Concerns of being dismissed or not taken seriously by HCPs was the most influential factor in deciding whether to seek help or not. Additionally, lack of awareness and education was identified as a key barrier, including uncertainty about whether symptoms were "severe" enough to justify seeking formal care and doubt regarding the range and efficacy of treatment options. To facilitate help-seeking, efforts should focus on improving education for individuals experiencing premenstrual symptoms and enhancing the quality of care interactions to address concerns about poor care experiences. Reproduced under CC-BY. ## Topics [Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pms/)[Premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pmdd/)[Stigma, attitudes and culture](https://niyora.com/research/topics/life-area-stigma-culture/)[Diagnosis experience and healthcare access](https://niyora.com/research/topics/life-area-healthcare-access/) 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. ## Related studies Study, 2026 What do women in Lahore know about PMDD and do they seek help for it? Survey study, 2022 Do different healthcare providers differ in recognizing and treating PMDD? Interview study, 2026 What are women's experiences getting diagnosed with PMDD? Interview study, 2022 Are doctors correctly diagnosing PMDD or mistaking it for depression or anxiety? Survey study, 2019 Does the Arabic version of the Premenstrual Screening Tool accurately diagnose PMDD? Survey study, 2001 Do gynecologists feel as responsible for treating depression as they do for treating severe PMS? Ask AI about this page Copy prompt ChatGPT ↗ Claude ↗ Perplexity ↗ Google AI Mode ↗ Grok ↗