Study, 1992
Do women trying to get pregnant report more premenstrual symptoms?
Yes. Women in fertility treatment reported more premenstrual symptoms than medical students, and over half of them met criteria for severe premenstrual disorder compared to 42% of students.
What they did
Researchers compared premenstrual symptoms in 405 women undergoing fertility treatment at a hospital with 101 female medical students. They measured specific symptoms and counted how many women in each group met diagnostic criteria.
What they found
84% of both groups reported some premenstrual changes. However, 52% of the women in fertility treatment met diagnostic criteria for severe premenstrual disorder (late luteal dysphoric disorder), compared to 42% of the students. Women in fertility treatment more often reported mood swings, anger, anxiety, and loss of interest.
What it means for you
Women dealing with infertility may experience more severe premenstrual symptoms, particularly mood-related ones. The study was done at one hospital, so results may not apply everywhere. The study shows a connection but cannot prove that infertility causes worse premenstrual symptoms.
405
women undergoing fertility treatment
52%
met criteria for severe premenstrual disorder
42%
of medical students met same criteria
About the study
- Original title
- [Incidence and type of premenstrual symptoms in relation to experienced infertility: a comparative study]
- Authors
- Rohde A, Marneros A, Fischer J et al.
- Journal
- Geburtshilfe und Frauenheilkunde
- Year
- 1992
- Study design
- Study
- Participants
- 405
- Read the paper
- doi.org/10.1055/s-2007-1023751
Topics
Related studies
Study, 2026
What are premenstrual syndrome and premenstrual dysphoric disorder?
Randomised trial, 2022
Does PMS50 supplementation reduce psychological symptoms of premenstrual syndrome?
Randomised trial, 2021
Does hypnotherapy reduce pain and emotional distress in women with PMDD?
Survey study, 2012
Is severe PMS linked to psychiatric symptoms like depression and anxiety?
Case-control study, 2009
How common is irritable bowel syndrome in Korean teenage girls and what causes it?
Survey study, 2026
How common is premenstrual tension and does it affect university students' studies?