---
title: Does learning about PMS make women perceive their symptoms as more severe?
description: Yes. Women who watched a video about PMS and its negative effects reported significantly more severe premenstrual symptoms afterward, while women who watched
url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/premenstrual-symptomatology-role-of-prior-knowledge-about-premenstrual-syndrome-1999/
---

- [Niyora](https://niyora.com/)
- [Research](https://niyora.com/research/)
- [Library](https://niyora.com/research/library/)
- Does learning about PMS make women perceive their symptoms as more severe?

Survey study, 1999

# Does learning about PMS make women perceive their symptoms as more severe?

Yes. Women who watched a video about PMS and its negative effects reported significantly more severe premenstrual symptoms afterward, while women who watched a video about the menstrual cycle showed no change.

 Early or limited evidence

86 healthy Mexican women with education through 6th grade

## What they did

Researchers gave 86 healthy Mexican women with education through 6th grade a symptom questionnaire. Then half watched a video about PMS and its negative effects on daily life, while the other half watched a video about the normal menstrual cycle. Symptoms were measured again after one menstrual cycle.

## What they found

Women in the PMS video group reported significantly more severe premenstrual symptoms on the second measurement. The control group, who watched the menstrual cycle video, showed no significant change in symptom reports.

## What it means for you

What women know or expect about PMS may influence how severe they perceive their symptoms to be. This was a small study in one country with women who had limited education, so findings may not apply more broadly.

86

women studied

2

groups (PMS video or cycle video)

1

menstrual cycle between measurements

## About the study

Original title Premenstrual symptomatology: role of prior knowledge about premenstrual syndrome Authors Marván ML, Escobedo C Journal Psychosomatic medicine Year 1999 Study design Survey study Participants 86 What was tested Video describing PMS and its negative consequences in daily life Read the paper [doi.org/10.1097/00006842-199903000-00007](https://doi.org/10.1097/00006842-199903000-00007)

## Topics

[Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pms/)[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

Case-control study, 2026

Do women with PMS handle emotions differently at different times of the cycle?

Systematic review, 2025

Does teaching adolescent girls about their menstrual cycle and health help reduce period pain and PMS?

Cohort study, 2023

Is PMDD a valid medical diagnosis?

Systematic review, 2012

Does the menstrual cycle cause negative mood, especially before your period?

Survey study, 2011

What premenstrual symptoms do women experience around the world and how much do they affect daily life?

Randomised trial, 2006

What herbs and dietary supplements have evidence for treating premenstrual syndrome?

Ask AI about this page

Copy prompt

ChatGPT

↗

Claude

↗

Perplexity

↗

Google AI Mode

↗

Grok

↗