---
title: Does drinking alcohol increase the risk of premenstrual syndrome?
description: Yes. Any alcohol drinking was linked to a 45 percent increased risk of PMS, and heavy drinking was linked to a 79 percent increased risk.
url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/premenstrual-syndrome-and-alcohol-consumption-a-systematic-review-and-meta-2018/
---

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- Does drinking alcohol increase the risk of premenstrual syndrome?

Systematic review, 2018

# Does drinking alcohol increase the risk of premenstrual syndrome?

Yes. Any alcohol drinking was linked to a 45 percent increased risk of PMS, and heavy drinking was linked to a 79 percent increased risk.

 Moderate study design

Women from various populations in 19 studies examining alcohol and premenstrual syndrome

## What they did

Systematic review and meta-analysis of 19 eligible studies (from 39 identified) examining alcohol consumption and PMS risk, including cohort, case-control, and cross-sectional studies, searching databases through May 2017.

## What they found

Any alcohol intake was associated with increased PMS risk (odds ratio 1.45, 95% confidence interval 1.17 to 1.79). Heavy drinking showed larger increased risk (odds ratio 1.79, 95% confidence interval 1.39 to 2.32).

## What it means for you

Women who drink alcohol appear to have higher PMS risk, with heavier drinkers at greater risk. The link is consistent across studies. However, these are observational studies and cannot prove alcohol causes PMS. Future studies should determine if a safe alcohol level exists.

19

studies of 39 identified

1.45

odds ratio for any alcohol

1.79

odds ratio for heavy drinking

## About the study

Original title Premenstrual syndrome and alcohol consumption: a systematic review and meta-analysis Authors Fernández MDM, Saulyte J, Inskip HM et al. Journal BMJ open Year 2018 Study design Systematic review What was tested Alcohol consumption (observational studies) Open access Yes Read the paper [doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2017-019490](https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2017-019490)

## Topics

[Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pms/)[Diet and nutrition](https://niyora.com/research/topics/treatment-diet/)[Alcohol, smoking and substance use](https://niyora.com/research/topics/comorbidity-substance-use/)

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