--- title: What period symptoms do university students have, and how do they manage them? description: Most students had some premenstrual and period symptoms, and about 23% described them as severe, but most did not see a doctor about it. url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/menstruation-symptoms-management-and-attitudes-in-university-students-1991/ --- - [Niyora](https://niyora.com/) - [Research](https://niyora.com/research/) - [Library](https://niyora.com/research/library/) - What period symptoms do university students have, and how do they manage them? Survey study, 1991 # What period symptoms do university students have, and how do they manage them? Most students had some premenstrual and period symptoms, and about 23% described them as severe, but most did not see a doctor about it. Early or limited evidence 102 Afrikaans speaking university students ## What they did A questionnaire about menstruation attitudes and symptom management was given to Afrikaans speaking university students. Of 130 questionnaires handed out, 102 were analysed. ## What they found 23% of the women had severe symptoms. Before their period, the main symptoms were irritability, moodiness, breast tenderness, skin changes and increased appetite. During their period, painful periods (dysmenorrhea) was the main symptom. Only 17.6% had seen a doctor about this in the past 2 years, but 47.1% used medication for symptoms. Seventy-six women (74.5%) accepted menstruation as a normal part of being a woman, while 19.6% said they would prefer not to menstruate, and most of this group had severe symptoms. Many women were afraid to consult a doctor about menstrual symptoms. ## What it means for you Premenstrual and period symptoms were common in this group of students, and many treated themselves rather than seeing a doctor, sometimes because they were afraid to ask. The study only looked at one group of students in one country, and there was no comparison group. 23% Women with severe symptoms 47.1% Used medication for symptoms 19.6% Preferred not to menstruate ## About the study Original title Menstruation: symptoms, management and attitudes in university students Authors Cronjé HS, Kritzinger IE Journal International journal of gynaecology and obstetrics: the official organ of the International Federation of Gynaecology and Obstetrics Year 1991 Study design Survey study What was tested None (questionnaire study of symptoms and attitudes, no treatment tested) Read the paper [doi.org/10.1016/0020-7292(91)90818-p](https://doi.org/10.1016/0020-7292(91)90818-p) ## Topics [Dysmenorrhea and period pain](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-dysmenorrhea/)[Students and academic performance](https://niyora.com/research/topics/life-area-education/)[Stigma, attitudes and culture](https://niyora.com/research/topics/life-area-stigma-culture/) 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 Systematic review, 2025 Does teaching adolescent girls about their menstrual cycle and health help reduce period pain and PMS? Survey study, 2025 How common are PMS and painful periods among female medical students in Saudi Arabia, and what causes them? Survey study, 2023 What factors make premenstrual syndrome worse in nursing students? Survey study, 2023 What factors make PMS worse in college students? Cohort study, 2017 How does stress relate to premenstrual symptoms? Survey study, 2015 How common is PMS and other menstrual problems in teenage girls? Ask AI about this page Copy prompt ChatGPT ↗ Claude ↗ Perplexity ↗ Google AI Mode ↗ Grok ↗