---
title: Does PMDD cause more healthcare costs and work loss than other premenstrual symptoms?
description: PMDD affects work productivity more than healthcare costs. Women with PMDD reported significantly lower productivity for 5-10 days after their period starts,
url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/premenstrual-dysphoric-disorder-is-there-an-economic-burden-of-illness-2002/
---

- [Niyora](https://niyora.com/)
- [Research](https://niyora.com/research/)
- [Library](https://niyora.com/research/library/)
- Does PMDD cause more healthcare costs and work loss than other premenstrual symptoms?

Cohort study, 2002

# Does PMDD cause more healthcare costs and work loss than other premenstrual symptoms?

PMDD affects work productivity more than healthcare costs. Women with PMDD reported significantly lower productivity for 5-10 days after their period starts, but did not use more healthcare or spend more on medical services.

 Moderate study design

1,194 women ages 21-45 in a California health plan

## What they did

Tracked 1,194 women ages 21-45 in a California health plan for 2 menstrual cycles. Women recorded daily symptoms. Doctors looked at healthcare visits and costs. Women were sorted into groups based on symptom severity: minimal (186), moderate (801), severe (151), or PMDD (56).

## What they found

Women with PMDD had much lower productivity scores in the 5-10 days after their period started compared to women with minimal or moderate symptoms (P<0.01). There was little difference in healthcare spending or time off work between groups. Emergency department, obstetrician/gynecologist, and alternative medicine visits increased with symptom severity, but overall healthcare expenditures did not differ.

## What it means for you

The real cost of PMDD is lost work productivity, not doctor visits or hospital care. The main limit is this was from one health plan in California, so results may not apply everywhere.

1,194

women studied

56

women with PMDD

5-10 days

lower productivity after period starts

## About the study

Original title Premenstrual dysphoric disorder: is there an economic burden of illness? Authors Chawla A, Swindle R, Long S et al. Journal Medical care Year 2002 Study design Cohort study Participants 1,194 Read the paper [doi.org/10.1097/01.mlr.0000032191.26152.90](https://doi.org/10.1097/01.mlr.0000032191.26152.90)

## Topics

[Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pms/)[Premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pmdd/)[Low mood and depression](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-depression-mood/)[Work and productivity](https://niyora.com/research/topics/life-area-work/)[Quality of life and daily functioning](https://niyora.com/research/topics/life-area-quality-of-life/)[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

Review, 2026

How much do PMS and menstrual disorders affect women's work, school, and quality of life?

Survey study, 2002

What is the economic and work impact of premenstrual dysphoric disorder?

Cohort study, 2011

What is the economic burden of moderate to severe PMS or PMDD in Latin American women?

Systematic review, 2025

How common are PMS, PMDD, and painful periods in nursing students, and do they affect their schooling?

Review, 2019

What is the current evidence for diagnosing and treating PMDD, especially in Indian women?

Review, 2005

Do antidepressants improve quality of life in women with PMDD?

Ask AI about this page

Copy prompt

ChatGPT

↗

Claude

↗

Perplexity

↗

Google AI Mode

↗

Grok

↗