---
title: Can premenstrual tension affect a court sentence? | Niyora
description: In this court case, a woman's sentence for traffic offences was reduced because she had premenstrual tension at the time. The court agreed the original 6-mont
url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/premenstrual-tension-as-mitigation-in-a-criminal-case-1992/
---

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- Can premenstrual tension affect a court sentence?

Case report, 1992

# Can premenstrual tension affect a court sentence?

In this court case, a woman's sentence for traffic offences was reduced because she had premenstrual tension at the time. The court agreed the original 6-month disqualification from driving was not necessary or appropriate.

 Early or limited evidence

One woman charged with road traffic offences

## What they did

A woman pleaded guilty to road traffic offences and was sentenced to 6 months without a driving licence. She appealed this sentence, saying she had premenstrual tension when she committed the offences.

## What they found

The appeal court allowed her appeal. The judges agreed that the 6-month disqualification was neither necessary nor appropriate because of her premenstrual tension.

## What it means for you

This is a legal case showing that one court accepted premenstrual tension as a reason to reduce a sentence. This is not a medical study, so we don't know how often courts consider premenstrual symptoms or what impact this has on sentencing.

6 months

Original sentence length

## About the study

Original title Premenstrual tension as mitigation in a criminal case Authors Shiels RS Journal Journal - Forensic Science Society Year 1992 Study design Case report What was tested None Read the paper [doi.org/10.1016/s0015-7368(92)73077-1](https://doi.org/10.1016/s0015-7368(92)73077-1)

## Topics

[Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pms/)[Anxiety and tension](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-anxiety/)[Legal and forensic](https://niyora.com/research/topics/life-area-legal-crime/)

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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Cohort study, 2011

Which six symptoms best identify who has PMS?

Survey study, 2025

Are violent tendencies linked to premenstrual symptoms?

Survey study, 2015

Does the ability to recognize emotions in faces change with menstrual cycle hormones?

Study, 1980

Does personality type affect whether women develop premenstrual tension?

Survey study, 1972

How does the menstrual cycle affect mood and sexual arousal?

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