Survey study, 2025

Is PMS common in women with PCOS, and does it affect quality of life?

Yes. PMS is very common in women with PCOS and is linked to lower quality of life, though the link is small, meaning other factors also matter.

Early or limited evidence 375 married women aged 25-35 with PCOS in Sialkot, Pakistan.

What they did

Cross-sectional study of 375 married women with PCOS aged 25-35 in Pakistan. Researchers measured PMS severity and quality of life using standard questionnaires.

What they found

Among 375 women: 47.5% had severe PMS, 42.9% had moderate PMS, 7.7% had mild PMS, and 1.9% had very severe PMS. Women with higher PMS scores had lower quality of life (p=0.042), but the effect was small.

What it means for you

If you have PCOS, PMS is likely. It does matter for your quality of life, but it's one of several factors affecting how well you feel. This study only captures one moment in time and comes from one country, so results may not apply everywhere.

47.5%

women with severe PMS

375

total participants

p=0.042

statistical significance of link to quality of life

About the study

Original title: Prevalence of Premenstrual Syndrome and Its Impact on Quality of Life in Married Females With Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS)
Authors: Sheezah Arshad, Fatima Bano, Tuba shahid et al.
Journal: Journal of Health Wellness and Community Research
Year: 2025
Study design: Survey study
Participants: 375
What was tested: None. Observational study measuring PMS and quality of life.
Open access: Yes
Read the paper: doi.org/10.61919/rh0t2v10

Original abstract

Background: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is frequently associated with psychological distress and reduced health-related quality of life (HRQOL), and hormonal dysregulation may increase vulnerability to premenstrual syndrome (PMS). Objective: To determine the prevalence of PMS severity among married women with PCOS and assess its association with HRQOL. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted from September 2024 to March 2025 among married women aged 25–35 years with PCOS attending hospitals in Sialkot, Pakistan (Ref # USKT/FAHS/RECLetter-00091). PCOS eligibility was assessed using a clinical diagnostic screening questionnaire (score >2). PMS severity was measured using the Premenstrual Syndrome Scale (PMSS), and HRQOL was assessed using the SF-36. Descriptive statistics were used to estimate prevalence, and simple linear regression examined the association between PMS score and HRQOL summary score using SPSS v26. Results: Among 375 participants (mean age 29.45 ± 2.74 years), PMS severity was predominantly severe (47.5%) or moderate (42.9%), with mild (7.7%) and very severe (1.9%) symptoms less frequent. HRQOL categories were severe impairment (40.5%), moderate impairment (17.1%), mild impairment (10.7%), and healthy (31.7%). PMS score showed a statistically significant association with HRQOL (p=0.042), although the explained variance was small (R²=0.011). Conclusion: PMS is highly prevalent in married women with PCOS and is significantly associated with HRQOL; however, the magnitude of association is small, indicating that additional determinants likely contribute to overall quality-of-life impairment.:

Reproduced under CC-BY.

Topics

Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)Quality of life and daily functioning

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