Lab study, 1990
What are the different patterns of premenstrual symptoms women experience?
Women have different combinations of premenstrual symptoms. The group with breast tenderness, bloating, irritability, tension and depression together was most likely to rate their symptoms as severe.
What they did
Researchers asked 1456 women aged 16-54 in New Zealand who had recently menstruated about their premenstrual symptoms during their last menstrual cycle. They grouped women based on which symptoms they reported.
What they found
Women fell into seven groups: three with a single main symptom (breast tenderness, bloating, or irritability), three with mixed symptoms, and one with miscellaneous symptoms. The largest mixed group had women with breast tenderness, bloating, irritability, tension and depression together. These women were most likely to rate their symptoms as severe.
What it means for you
Different women experience different premenstrual symptom patterns, which can help doctors give more targeted treatment. The study looked at women from one region in New Zealand in general practice, so results may differ elsewhere.
1456
women studied
7
symptom groups identified
16-54
age range
About the study
- Original title
- Premenstrual syndromes defined by symptom-sets
- Authors
- Reinken JA, Pullon SR, Sparrow MJ
- Journal
- Family practice
- Year
- 1990
- Study design
- Lab study
- Participants
- 1,456
- Read the paper
- doi.org/10.1093/fampra/7.3.201
Topics
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