--- title: Are menstrual symptoms common in middle-aged women and do they relate to hot flushes? description: Cramping is common (54%) but mood symptoms are less frequent (8-9%). Cramping and back pain were associated with hot flushes, suggesting hormonal changes may url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/perimenstrual-symptoms-and-symptoms-at-midlife-in-puebla-mexico-2013/ --- - [Niyora](https://niyora.com/) - [Research](https://niyora.com/research/) - [Library](https://niyora.com/research/library/) - Are menstrual symptoms common in middle-aged women and do they relate to hot flushes? Survey study, 2013 # Are menstrual symptoms common in middle-aged women and do they relate to hot flushes? Cramping is common (54%) but mood symptoms are less frequent (8-9%). Cramping and back pain were associated with hot flushes, suggesting hormonal changes may affect both. Moderate study design 755 pre- and postmenopausal women aged 40-60 years in Puebla, Mexico ## What they did Cross-sectional survey of 755 pre- and postmenopausal women aged 40-60 in Puebla, Mexico. Researchers asked about menstrual symptoms (cramps, mood changes, pain), hot flushes, and depression over the past 2 weeks. ## What they found 54% of women reported abdominal cramping during menstruation. Far fewer reported irritability (8%) or depressed mood (9%). Other common symptoms included gastrointestinal complaints (12%), breast tenderness (10%), and mid-back pain (9%). Abdominal cramping and waist pain were significantly associated with hot flushes (p<0.01). Depressed mood with menstruation was associated with depressed mood at midlife (p<0.05). ## What it means for you Cramping is the most common menstrual symptom in this population, and its link to hot flushes suggests hormonal factors. Mood symptoms are less prevalent than physical symptoms. Menstrual history may be relevant to midlife health, but current symptoms (hot flushes, sleep problems) were more important for depression than past menstrual mood changes. Results are from Mexico only. 755 women surveyed 54% with abdominal cramping 8% with irritability during menstruation ## About the study Original title Perimenstrual symptoms and symptoms at midlife in Puebla, Mexico Authors Sievert LL, Bertone-Johnson E Journal Climacteric : the journal of the International Menopause Society Year 2013 Study design Survey study What was tested None (observational survey) Read the paper [doi.org/10.3109/13697137.2012.678914](https://doi.org/10.3109/13697137.2012.678914) ## Topics [Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pms/)[Menstrual cycle and mood](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-cycle-mood/)[Low mood and depression](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-depression-mood/)[Irritability and anger](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-irritability-anger/)[Sleep and insomnia](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-sleep/)[Bloating, breast tenderness and physical symptoms](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-physical-symptoms/)[Pain and headache](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-pain/)[Perimenopause and menopause](https://niyora.com/research/topics/comorbidity-perimenopause/)[Relationships and partners](https://niyora.com/research/topics/life-area-relationships/)[Economic burden](https://niyora.com/research/topics/life-area-economic-burden/) 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 Survey study, 2019 What are the best ways to manage PMS? Study, 2026 What are premenstrual syndrome and premenstrual dysphoric disorder? Survey study, 2025 Can a plant-based supplement reduce PMS symptoms? Randomised trial, 2020 Does progesterone therapy help premenstrual syndrome in women with PCOS? Randomised trial, 2018 Does swimming reduce premenstrual syndrome symptoms? Survey study, 2017 Does painful menstruation affect adolescent girls' mood, emotions, sleep, and thinking? Ask AI about this page Copy prompt ChatGPT ↗ Claude ↗ Perplexity ↗ Google AI Mode ↗ Grok ↗