Study, 1991
Do women with premenstrual syndrome have different symptom severity in different menstrual cycles?
Symptoms were mostly stable between cycles. However, women with different PMS patterns behaved differently: those with symptoms only before menstruation had worse symptoms during the first cycle, while those with symptoms at other times felt better in the first cycle.
What they did
Fifty-four women seeking help for PMS rated 12 different symptoms every day for two consecutive menstrual cycles using a rating scale. Blood samples were taken weekly to confirm ovulation.
What they found
When looking at all women together across both cycles, only one symptom showed a clear difference. The researchers divided women into two groups based on their symptom patterns: pure PMS (symptoms only before menstruation) and premenstrual aggravation (symptoms at other times too). Women with pure PMS had significantly worse symptoms in the first cycle. Women with premenstrual aggravation had significantly better symptoms in the first cycle compared to the second.
What it means for you
PMS symptoms are fairly stable from cycle to cycle for most women, but severity can vary. Different patterns of PMS may change in different ways. This study describes what happens but not why these changes occur.
54
Women studied
12
Different symptoms tracked
2
Consecutive menstrual cycles monitored
About the study
- Original title
- Premenstrual tension syndrome: A study comparing symptom ratings during two consecutive menstrual cycles
- Authors
- Ulla‐Britt Ekholm, Stefan Hammarbäck, Torbjörn Carl Bäckström
- Journal
- Journal of Psychosomatic Obstetrics & Gynecology
- Year
- 1991
- Study design
- Study
- Participants
- 54
- Read the paper
- doi.org/10.3109/01674829109078009
Topics
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