---
title: What are the typical symptoms of PMS and who gets it? | Niyora
description: The most common symptoms are irritability, depression, and abdominal bloating. PMS is found across women of different ages and life situations.
url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/premenstrual-syndrome-in-cape-town-part-i-an-analysis-of-100-consecutive-1986/
---

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- What are the typical symptoms of PMS and who gets it?

Study, 1986

# What are the typical symptoms of PMS and who gets it?

The most common symptoms are irritability, depression, and abdominal bloating. PMS is found across women of different ages and life situations.

 Early or limited evidence

100 women who attended PMS clinics in Cape Town.

## What they did

100 women who attended premenstrual syndrome clinics were analyzed. Researchers recorded their symptoms, age, marital status, whether they had had children, employment status, and whether their periods were regular.

## What they found

The most common symptoms were irritability, depression, and abdominal bloating. 70% of the women were employed or were full-time students. 72% had a regular menstrual pattern. Whether women had PMS did not relate to their age, marital status, or whether they had had children.

## What it means for you

PMS affects women in many different life situations and at different ages. One limitation is this looked only at women who attended clinics, which may not represent all women with PMS.

100

women analyzed

70%

employed or full-time students

72%

had regular menstrual pattern

## About the study

Original title Premenstrual syndrome in Cape Town. Part I. An analysis of 100 consecutive patients Authors Gunston KD Journal South African medical journal = Suid-Afrikaanse tydskrif vir geneeskunde Year 1986 Study design Study What was tested None. Read the paper [https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/3738642/](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/3738642/)

## Topics

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

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.

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