--- title: How common are PMS and PMDD in university students and what factors increase the risk? description: Nearly half of university students have PMS (46.9%) and about 1 in 10 have PMDD (11.1%). Depression, recent alcohol use, and being a first or second year stud url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/prevalence-of-premenstrual-syndrome-and-associated-factors-among-academics-of-a-2022/ --- - [Niyora](https://niyora.com/) - [Research](https://niyora.com/research/) - [Library](https://niyora.com/research/library/) - How common are PMS and PMDD in university students and what factors increase the risk? Survey study, 2022 # How common are PMS and PMDD in university students and what factors increase the risk? Nearly half of university students have PMS (46.9%) and about 1 in 10 have PMDD (11.1%). Depression, recent alcohol use, and being a first or second year student are risk factors. Early or limited evidence 1,115 university students aged 18 or older from Midwest Brazil ## What they did A cross-sectional study of 1,115 university students aged 18 or older in Brazil who completed questionnaires about PMS symptoms and health factors including depression and alcohol use. ## What they found 46.9% had PMS and 11.1% had PMDD. Physical symptoms were most common (73% experienced breast tenderness, bloating, or weight gain). Over 30% reported that symptoms moderately to severely interfered with social and academic activities. Risk factors included being in 1st or 2nd semester (1.44 times higher), drinking alcohol in the last 30 days (1.23 times higher), and having depression (1.49 times higher). ## What it means for you PMS affects about half of university students and interferes with their studies and social life. Depression is strongly linked to PMS. The limitation is that this is observational, so we cannot prove these factors cause PMS. 46.9% PMS prevalence 11.1% PMDD prevalence 73% Physical symptoms ## About the study Original title Prevalence of Premenstrual Syndrome and Associated Factors Among Academics of a University in Midwest Brazil Authors Rezende APR, Alvarenga FR, Ramos M et al. Journal Revista brasileira de ginecologia e obstetricia : revista da Federacao Brasileira das Sociedades de Ginecologia e Obstetricia Year 2022 Study design Survey study Participants 1,115 What was tested None Open access Yes Read the paper [doi.org/10.1055/s-0041-1741456](https://doi.org/10.1055/s-0041-1741456) Original abstract Objective: To investigate the prevalence of premenstrual syndrome (PMS) and premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) in university students, the factors associated with PMS, the most prevalent symptoms, and the interference of symptoms in academic, family, social, and work activities. Methods: This cross-sectional study included 1,115 university students aged ≥ 18 years from the University of Rio Verde, Goiás. Premenstrual syndrome and PMDD were identified using the Premenstrual Symptoms Screening Tool. Associations with sociodemographic, behavioral, reproductive, nutritional, and health factors were investigated using the Poisson regression. Results: The prevalence of PMS was 46.9% (95% confidence interval [CI] 44.0-49.8), and of PMDD, 11.1% (95% CI 9.3-13.0). The most prevalent symptoms were physical, such as breast tenderness, bloating, e weight gain (73%); followed by psychological ones such as overeating/food cravings, tearful/more sensitive to rejection (> 60%). More than 30% of the patients reported that the symptoms interfered in a moderate-to-severe way in their social and academic activities. After adjusted analysis, PMS was more prevalent in those who were attending the 1 st /2 nd semester of college (prevalence ratio [PR] 1.44; 95% CI 1.14-1.80), those who consumed alcohol in the last 30 days (PR 1.23; 95% CI 1.04-1.47), and those who had depression (PR 1.49; 95% CI 1.30-1.71). Conclusion: Almost half of the university students had PMS and ∼ 11%, PMDD. Physical symptoms were the most common and interfered in a moderate-to-severe way in various aspects of life. Attending the first semesters, consuming alcohol, and having depression were risk factors for PMS. The identification of risk factors for PMS is essential to prevent symptoms and reduce the impact of the syndrome. Reproduced under CC-BY. ## 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/)[Bloating, breast tenderness and physical symptoms](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-physical-symptoms/)[Alcohol, smoking and substance use](https://niyora.com/research/topics/comorbidity-substance-use/)[Students and academic performance](https://niyora.com/research/topics/life-area-education/) 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 Survey study, 2024 What types of premenstrual syndrome exist and how common are they? Study, 2026 What are premenstrual syndrome and premenstrual dysphoric disorder? 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