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Study, 1988

How is stress connected to PMS?

Stress is frequently linked to PMS in two different ways. In some women, stress is already high in their lives and PMS makes it worse. In others, stress is actually one of the PMS symptoms themselves.

Early or limited evidence Women with PMS

What they did

Two patterns of how stress relates to PMS were described.

What they found

The first pattern is secondary PMS, where women have underlying high stress levels and PMS symptoms worsen their daily life. The second is primary PMS, where stress is part of the PMS symptoms and not present at other times of the cycle.

What it means for you

Understanding which pattern of PMS a woman has helps doctors choose the right management approach. Treatment differs between the two types.

About the study

Original title
Premenstrual stress
Authors
I. D. Vellacott, P.M.S. O’Brien
Journal
Stress Medicine
Year
1988
Study design
Study
What was tested
none

Topics