---
title: How common are premenstrual syndrome and PMDD in Spanish women?
description: Most Spanish women (73.7%) experience some premenstrual symptoms, but only 8.9% have moderate or severe PMS and 1.1% meet criteria for PMDD.
url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/prevalence-of-premenstrual-syndrome-and-premenstrual-dysphoric-disorder-in-a-2011/
---

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- How common are premenstrual syndrome and PMDD in Spanish women?

Cohort study, 2011

# How common are premenstrual syndrome and PMDD in Spanish women?

Most Spanish women (73.7%) experience some premenstrual symptoms, but only 8.9% have moderate or severe PMS and 1.1% meet criteria for PMDD.

 Moderate study design

2108 Spanish women aged 15-49 representative of the general Spanish population

## What they did

Cross-sectional survey of 2108 Spanish women aged 15-49 conducted in November-December 2008. Women were interviewed at home and asked about premenstrual symptoms they experienced during the last 12 menstrual cycles using a standard screening tool.

## What they found

Of the 2108 women surveyed, 1554 (73.7%) reported some premenstrual symptoms. Of those with symptoms, 1415 (91%) had isolated symptoms only, 139 (8.9%) had moderate or severe PMS, and 24 (1.1%) met criteria for PMDD. Only women with moderate or severe PMS or PMDD reported symptoms significantly disrupted daily life.

## What it means for you

Premenstrual symptoms are very common in Spanish women, but severe forms that interfere with daily life are much less common. Most women with some symptoms do not need medical help. This finding matches reports from other Western countries.

2108

women surveyed

73.7%

with any premenstrual symptoms

1.1%

meeting PMDD criteria

## About the study

Original title Prevalence of premenstrual syndrome and premenstrual dysphoric disorder in a representative cohort of Spanish women of fertile age Authors Dueñas JL, Lete I, Bermejo R et al. Journal European journal of obstetrics, gynecology, and reproductive biology Year 2011 Study design Cohort study Participants 2,108 What was tested survey assessing how common premenstrual symptoms are Open access Yes Read the paper [doi.org/10.1016/j.ejogrb.2010.12.013](https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejogrb.2010.12.013)

## 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/)[Major depressive disorder](https://niyora.com/research/topics/comorbidity-major-depression/)

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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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