---
title: How common is PMS among female athletes and what causes it? | Niyora
description: 14.5% of elite female athletes met PMS criteria and reported high rates of fatigue, anger, and muscle pain. The study found no clear links to training intensi
url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/prevalence-of-premenstrual-syndrome-in-korean-female-national-athletes-and-2021/
---

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- How common is PMS among female athletes and what causes it?

Survey study, 2021

# How common is PMS among female athletes and what causes it?

14.5% of elite female athletes met PMS criteria and reported high rates of fatigue, anger, and muscle pain. The study found no clear links to training intensity, body weight, diet, or other factors investigated.

 Early or limited evidence

124 elite female athletes in Korea

## What they did

A survey of 124 elite female athletes at a national training center asked about PMS symptoms and measured training time, body weight, age, menstrual regularity, alcohol use, coffee intake, and diet history.

## What they found

Of the 124 athletes, 18 (14.5%) met the criteria for PMS. All 18 reported fatigue or low energy (100%), 14 reported anger or irritability (77.8%), and 10 reported joint or muscle pain (55.6%). There were no clear differences between athletes with and without PMS in training time, body weight, age at first period, menstrual regularity, alcohol use, coffee use, diet, or stress fractures.

## What it means for you

PMS is less common in elite female athletes than in the general population, but affects their performance when present. Few of these athletes sought medical help. The study did not identify clear causes, so more research is needed. Results only apply to elite athletes, not all women.

14.5%

met PMS criteria

100%

had fatigue or low energy

77.8%

had anger or irritability

## About the study

Original title Prevalence of Premenstrual Syndrome in Korean Female National Athletes and Associated Risk Factors Authors Tae Im Yi, Moonjung Bae Journal The Korean Journal of Sports Medicine Year 2021 Study design Survey study Participants 124 Open access Yes Read the paper [doi.org/10.5763/kjsm.2021.39.1.10](https://doi.org/10.5763/kjsm.2021.39.1.10)

## Topics

[Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pms/)[Irritability and anger](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-irritability-anger/)[Stress](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-stress/)[Diet and nutrition](https://niyora.com/research/topics/treatment-diet/)[Alcohol, smoking and substance use](https://niyora.com/research/topics/comorbidity-substance-use/)[Athletes and sport](https://niyora.com/research/topics/life-area-athletes/)

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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