--- title: How common is PMDD among female medical students and what triggers it? description: 11% screened positive for PMDD and 42.5% had moderate-to-severe PMS. Main triggers were stress, poor health, poor nutrition, and exams, though most managed sy url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/premenstrual-symptoms-and-academic-performance-exploring-female-medical-students-2026/ --- - [Niyora](https://niyora.com/) - [Research](https://niyora.com/research/) - [Library](https://niyora.com/research/library/) - How common is PMDD among female medical students and what triggers it? Survey study, 2026 # How common is PMDD among female medical students and what triggers it? 11% screened positive for PMDD and 42.5% had moderate-to-severe PMS. Main triggers were stress, poor health, poor nutrition, and exams, though most managed symptoms without seeing a doctor. Moderate study design 492 female medical students in central region of Saudi Arabia ## What they did Cross-sectional survey of 492 female medical students in Saudi Arabia. Participants completed a self-administered questionnaire and the Premenstrual Symptoms Screening Tool (PSST) to assess PMS symptoms, triggers, and coping strategies. ## What they found 11% screened positive for PMDD, 42.5% had moderate-to-severe PMS. Main triggers: stress (70.33%), poor general health (43.90%), poor nutrition (38.82%), academic examinations (38.62%). Common coping strategies: rest (70.33%), warm herbal drinks (49.59%), heat therapy (48.58%). Only 21% sought medical consultation. ## What it means for you PMDD and PMS are common in medical students and strongly linked to stress and lifestyle factors, but most students manage symptoms on their own without medical help. The study is limited to one country and relies on self-reported data. 11% screened positive for PMDD 42.5% moderate-to-severe PMS 70.33% reported stress as trigger ## About the study Original title Premenstrual symptoms and academic performance: exploring female medical students' experience, triggering factors, and coping approaches Authors Dawood E, Alshareif S, Binghadir H et al. Journal Frontiers in global women's health Year 2026 Study design Survey study Participants 492 What was tested None - this was an observational study Open access Yes Read the paper [doi.org/10.3389/fgwh.2026.1758225](https://doi.org/10.3389/fgwh.2026.1758225) Original abstract Background: Premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) represents the most severe form of premenstrual symptoms, markedly affecting emotional well-being, physical health, and academic functioning. Medical students are particularly susceptible due to high academic demands and stress exposure. However, evidence from Saudi Arabia remains limited. This study examined the proportion of participants who screened positive for PMDD based on PTSS criteria, its associated triggering factors, and coping strategies among female medical students in the central region of Saudi Arabia. Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted among 492 female students enrolled in medical colleges. Participants were recruited through convenience sampling. Data were collected using a self-administered questionnaire consisting of sociodemographic and menstrual-related items and the validated Premenstrual Symptoms Screening Tool (PSST). Data analysis was performed using JMP Pro 17. Ethical approval was obtained from the Institutional Review Board at KAIMRC (SP23R/242/11). The study adhered to STROBE reporting guidelines. Results: The proportion of participants who screened positive for PMDD based on PTSS criteria of PMDD was 11%, while 42.5% of participants met criteria for moderate-to-severe premenstrual syndrome (PMS). The most frequently reported symptom triggers included stress (70.33%), poor general health (43.90%), poor nutrition (38.82%), and academic examinations (38.62%). Common coping strategies included rest (70.33%), consumption of warm herbal drinks (49.59%), and the use of heat therapy (48.58%). Only 21% reported seeking medical consultation. Significant associations were identified between PMS/PMDD severity and marital status ( p = 0.010), college type ( p = 0.029), menstrual blood amount ( p p p p < 0.001). Conclusion: PMDD and moderate-to-severe PMS are common among female medical students and are influenced by stress, lifestyle factors, and menstrual health characteristics. Despite the considerable impact on academic functioning and attendance, most students adopt self-management approaches and rarely seek medical care. These findings underscore the need for targeted health education, stress management support, and enhanced menstrual health services within academic institutions. Reproduced under CC-BY. ## 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/)[Stress](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-stress/)[Psychotherapy, counselling and education](https://niyora.com/research/topics/treatment-psychotherapy/)[Other herbal medicine](https://niyora.com/research/topics/treatment-herbal-other/)[Students and academic performance](https://niyora.com/research/topics/life-area-education/) 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, 2026 How common is PMS in female university students in Lebanon and what factors increase the risk? Survey study, 2025 What is the prevalence of PMS among medical students in India, and what factors are linked to it? Survey study, 2023 How common are PMS and PMDD in Iranian medical students, and what factors increase risk? Survey study, 2011 Does work stress and night shifts increase risk of PMS and PMDD? Review, 2023 What treatments help mental and physical health problems linked to the menstrual cycle? Survey study, 2026 How common are severe PMS and PMDD in young women, and what are the risk factors? Ask AI about this page Copy prompt ChatGPT ↗ Claude ↗ Perplexity ↗ Google AI Mode ↗ Grok ↗