---
title: Does PMS affect how married couples get along? | Niyora
description: Yes. Women with PMS and their husbands report worse relationship quality in the second half of the menstrual cycle, though the first half shows no difference
url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/premenstrual-syndrome-and-the-marital-relationship-1992/
---

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- Does PMS affect how married couples get along?

Survey study, 1992

# Does PMS affect how married couples get along?

Yes. Women with PMS and their husbands report worse relationship quality in the second half of the menstrual cycle, though the first half shows no difference from couples without PMS.

 Early or limited evidence

Couples with women experiencing PMS and couples without PMS

## What they did

Cross-sectional study comparing marital relationship quality in couples where the woman has PMS versus couples where she does not. Relationships were measured during both the first and second halves of the menstrual cycle.

## What they found

Couples with PMS reported similar marital satisfaction in the first half of the cycle as non-PMS couples. In the second half, couples with PMS reported worse relationships. Men and women reported similar levels of marital problems. Many women showed high ongoing psychological distress.

## What it means for you

PMS may negatively affect relationships during the luteal phase. However, this was observational and many women had other sources of psychological stress, so we cannot be certain PMS alone caused the relationship problems.

## About the study

Original title Premenstrual syndrome and the marital relationship Authors Rebecca Ryser, Leslie L. Feinauer Journal American Journal of Family Therapy Year 1992 Study design Survey study What was tested None Read the paper [doi.org/10.1080/01926189208250887](https://doi.org/10.1080/01926189208250887)

## Topics

[Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pms/)[Relationships and partners](https://niyora.com/research/topics/life-area-relationships/)

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