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Survey study, 2025

How common is premenstrual syndrome and how much does it affect quality of life in one Saudi region?

Nearly half of women in this region had PMS with mood and physical symptoms, but most did not seek medical care.

Early or limited evidence 504 women of reproductive age in Al-Qunfudhah, Saudi Arabia

What they did

Cross-sectional online survey of 504 women of reproductive age in Al-Qunfudhah, Saudi Arabia between February and August 2024. Women answered questions about PMS symptoms, how they manage them, and impact on quality of life.

What they found

45.2% of women met criteria for PMS. Most commonly reported moderate-to-severe symptoms were mood swings (73.6%), fatigue (70.2%), and irritability (66.9%), plus physical symptoms including joint pain (53%), muscle pain (52.4%), and headache (45%). Most women did not seek medical care and instead self-medicated.

What it means for you

PMS is very common and affects both mood and physical health, but many women do not receive medical treatment and instead self-medicate. This study was limited to one region in Saudi Arabia so may not represent all Saudi women.

45.2%

of women had PMS

73.6%

reported mood swings

70.2%

reported fatigue

About the study

Original title
Premenstrual Syndrome, Prevalence, Management and Impact in Quality of Life of Women Residing in Al Qunfudhah, Saudi Arabia
Authors
Rudhab Alrizqi, Amal Saad Alomari, Reham Ibrahim Alsahabi et al.
Journal
Journal of Advanced Trends in Medical Research
Year
2025
Study design
Survey study
Participants
504
What was tested
None - observational study
Open access
Yes

Topics