---
title: How common are symptom changes across the menstrual cycle and PMDD?
description: Symptom changes during the menstrual cycle are very common, with 80.7% of women showing such changes. Among those who self-identified with PMS (51%), only 2-6
url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/prevalence-of-menstrual-cycle-symptom-cyclicity-and-premenstrual-dysphoric-2000/
---

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- How common are symptom changes across the menstrual cycle and PMDD?

Cohort study, 2000

# How common are symptom changes across the menstrual cycle and PMDD?

Symptom changes during the menstrual cycle are very common, with 80.7% of women showing such changes. Among those who self-identified with PMS (51%), only 2-6% met clinical criteria for PMDD.

 Moderate study design

83 Icelandic women aged 20-40, using and not using oral contraceptives

## What they did

Prospective cohort study of 83 Icelandic women aged 20-40, some using oral contraceptives and some not. Women completed a 57-symptom checklist across 1-7 menstrual cycles (most tracked 3-4 cycles) and noted whether symptoms were worse in the follicular (earlier) or luteal (later) phase.

## What they found

80.7% of women reported symptoms worse in the luteal phase. 72.3% reported symptoms worse in the follicular phase at least once. 51% self-identified with PMS, and 2-6% of that group met clinical criteria for PMDD. Symptom changes were seen mainly in physical symptoms.

## What it means for you

Symptom changes during the menstrual cycle are normal for most women. This helps explain why so many women report PMS in surveys. Not all symptom changes represent a disorder. The findings are limited to Iceland and the sample is small.

80.7%

showed symptoms worse in later phase

51%

self-identified with PMS

2-6%

of PMS group met PMDD criteria

## About the study

Original title Prevalence of menstrual cycle symptom cyclicity and premenstrual dysphoric disorder in a random sample of women using and not using oral contraceptives Authors Sveindóttir H, Bäckström T Journal Acta obstetricia et gynecologica Scandinavica Year 2000 Study design Cohort study Participants 83 What was tested None - observational study Open access Yes Read the paper [doi.org/10.1080/j.1600-0412.2000.079005405.x](https://doi.org/10.1080/j.1600-0412.2000.079005405.x)

## Topics

[Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pms/)[Premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pmdd/)[Low mood and depression](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-depression-mood/)[Oral contraceptives and drospirenone](https://niyora.com/research/topics/treatment-hormonal-contraceptives/)

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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