Survey study, 2026
How common is PMS in female undergraduate medical students?
PMS was very common, affecting 73.6% of students. Abdominal pain and cramping were the most common symptoms, followed by mood swings and irritability. Weight was not linked to PMS in this group.
What they did
Cross-sectional survey of 212 female undergraduate medical students. Participants reported PMS symptoms and their height and weight were measured.
What they found
73.6% had PMS. Mean BMI 21.84±4.07 kg/m². 30.7% (65) sought medical advice, 42% (89) took painkillers. 41% (87) had moderate severity. Most common physiological symptoms: abdominal pain (95.2%, 202), pelvic pain (90.6%, 192). Psychological symptoms: mood swings (92.9%, 197), irritability (88.7%, 188), poor concentration (87.3%, 185). Behavioral symptoms: restlessness (84%, 178), lack of interest (83%, 176). BMI not significantly linked to PMS (p=0.09).
What it means for you
PMS is very common in student women, with abdominal cramps and mood swings being the main symptoms. Weight does not affect whether someone has PMS. The study only included medical students at one college, so findings may not apply to all women.
73.6%
had PMS
95.2%
had abdominal pain
92.9%
had mood swings
About the study
- Original title
- Prevalence of “Premenstrual Syndrome” among female undergraduate students of tertiary care institute
- Authors
- Suchitra Ravindra Ragit, Leena Balpande, Yamini Pusdekar et al.
- Journal
- The New Indian Journal of OBGYN
- Year
- 2026
- Study design
- Survey study
- Participants
- 212
- What was tested
- None - observational study
- Open access
- Yes
- Read the paper
- doi.org/10.21276/obgyn.2026.v12.i2.14
Topics
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