---
title: Does how much exercise a university student does affect whether she gets PMS?
description: No. Over 6 in 10 students had PMS, but their activity level and whether they exercised regularly made no measurable difference to their PMS.
url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/premenstrual-syndrome-and-physical-activity-level-in-the-university-students-2019/
---

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- Does how much exercise a university student does affect whether she gets PMS?

Survey study, 2019

# Does how much exercise a university student does affect whether she gets PMS?

No. Over 6 in 10 students had PMS, but their activity level and whether they exercised regularly made no measurable difference to their PMS.

 Early or limited evidence

304 female nursing and midwifery students at one Turkish university

## What they did

Researchers surveyed 304 female midwifery and nursing students at a health sciences faculty in Central Anatolia, using questionnaires on student background, a PMS scale, and an international physical activity scale.

## What they found

Average age was 19.6 years, average BMI 21.8, and average age at first period 13.2 years. 71.3% of students were inactive. PMS was found in 61.8% of students, with an average PMS scale score of 120.3. Activity level and regular exercise were not significantly linked to having PMS (p>0.05).

## What it means for you

PMS was very common in this group of young women, but this study found no link between exercise habits and PMS. It only looked at one faculty at one point in time, so it can't show whether starting exercise would change symptoms.

61.8%

Had PMS

71.3%

Were physically inactive

19.6 yrs

Average age

## About the study

Original title Premenstrual Syndrome and Physical Activity Level in the University Students Authors Rükiye Höbek Akarsu, Eylem Yalman Journal Avrasya Spor Bilimleri ve Eğitim Dergisi Year 2019 Study design Survey study Participants 304 What was tested Physical activity level (not a tested treatment, just measured) Open access Yes Read the paper [doi.org/10.47778/ejsse.3](https://doi.org/10.47778/ejsse.3)

## Topics

[Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pms/)[Exercise and yoga](https://niyora.com/research/topics/treatment-exercise/)[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

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Does exercise help college women with period problems and mental health?

Non-randomised trial, 2026

Does video-guided digital menstrual exercise reduce PMS and period pain in adolescent girls?

Cohort study, 2026

Are diet and lifestyle linked to premenstrual symptoms in college students?

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