Case-control study, 2002
Do menstrual characteristics and PMS differ in women with Parkinson's disease?
Overall, women with Parkinson's disease had similar menstrual characteristics and PMS rates as healthy women. However, women whose disease started before menopause had notably more severe PMS and dysmenorrhea than those with later disease onset.
What they did
Case-control study comparing reproductive life events and disease characteristics in 150 women with Parkinson's disease and 200 age-matched healthy women through interviews.
What they found
Women with Parkinson's disease had later menarche than controls, but still normal. Menopause timing, type, and onset were similar to controls, with less hormone replacement therapy use. Women with PD had fewer children. Dysmenorrhea and PMS were similar overall between groups. However, women with PD onset before menopause had more dysmenorrhea and PMS than those with later onset. Those with pre-menopause disease onset also had longer disease duration, more fluctuating symptoms, and longer treatment with levodopa and dopamine agonists. Breastfeeding and gynecological diseases were comparable.
What it means for you
Estrogen may influence how Parkinson's disease develops and progresses in women, as suggested by worse PMS in women whose disease started before menopause. This study shows associations but does not prove cause. The findings are specific to Parkinson's disease rather than general PMS research.
150
women with Parkinson's disease
200
healthy control women
About the study
- Original title
- Parkinson's disease and reproductive life events
- Authors
- Martignoni E, Nappi RE, Citterio A et al.
- Journal
- Neurological sciences : official journal of the Italian Neurological Society and of the Italian Society of Clinical Neurophysiology
- Year
- 2002
- Study design
- Case-control study
- Participants
- 150
- What was tested
- None - observational study
- Read the paper
- doi.org/10.1007/s100720200082
Topics
Related studies
Systematic review, 2025
Does alcohol use affect menstrual health in teenage girls?
Systematic review, 2010
Does acupuncture treat premenstrual syndrome?
Survey study, 2026
Are menstrual characteristics linked to depression and anxiety in teenage girls?
Non-randomised trial, 2026
Does video-guided digital menstrual exercise reduce PMS and period pain in adolescent girls?
Case-control study, 2026
Do adolescents with heart disease have worse menstrual problems than healthy teenagers?
Survey study, 2026
What factors are linked with period pain in teenage girls in Ethiopia?