Review, 1994
How much does PMS disrupt women's daily lives and relationships?
Symptoms peak during the last 5 premenstrual days and disappear within 3 to 4 days after bleeding starts. Severity varies greatly, from no symptoms to severe disruption for 14 days each month.
What they did
Review of methods for measuring PMS severity and assessing its impact on family, social, and work life.
What they found
Symptoms start shortly after ovulation, increase in severity, and reach maximum during the last 5 premenstrual days. After bleeding begins, symptoms disappear rapidly and are usually gone within 3 to 4 days. Severity among women varies from having no cyclical mood changes to being severely affected for 14 days per month.
What it means for you
Proper measurement of severity is important but challenging because symptoms are subjective and affect women very differently. This is a review of measurement approaches, not new research.
last 5 days
Before menstruation when symptoms peak
3 to 4 days
Time for symptoms to disappear after bleeding starts
14 days
Per month of severe symptoms for some women
About the study
- Original title
- Influence of premenstrual syndrome on family, social life, and work performance
- Authors
- Ekholm UB, Bäckström T
- Journal
- International journal of health services : planning, administration, evaluation
- Year
- 1994
- Study design
- Review
- What was tested
- Not applicable
- Read the paper
- doi.org/10.2190/p0y8-j7uf-k2mg-lbl4
Topics
Related studies
Review, 2026
How well do SSRIs treat PMS?
Cohort study, 2026
Is PMS becoming more common and more disabling worldwide?
Systematic review, 2026
Are hormone levels different in women with PMS?
Systematic review, 2026
Do mindfulness and relaxation techniques help with PMS symptoms?
Systematic review, 2026
Why do some women experience mood changes linked to their menstrual cycle?
Randomised trial, 2025
Do essential oils reduce PMS symptoms?