Survey study, 2019

How common are PMS and PMDD in teenage girls?

Over half (53.5%) of female high school students experience PMS and about 1 in 8 (12.22%) experience PMDD. Girls with a family history of PMS are more likely to have these conditions. Schools could help by providing education about PMS.

Moderate study design 368 female high school students in Shoushtar, Iran with mean age 16.3 years

What they did

Researchers surveyed 368 female high school students in Shoushtar, Iran in 2016. They collected demographic information and used a screening tool to assess symptoms.

What they found

Of 368 students, 53.5% had PMS and 12.22% had PMDD. The most common symptoms were mood, behavioral and physical changes. The frequency of PMS was higher in students with a positive family history of PMS or PMDD.

What it means for you

More than half of teenage girls experience PMS, making it a common health concern in schools. Having a parent or relative with PMS increases risk. This can interfere with school performance. However, this study is from one city in Iran and may not apply to all teenagers worldwide.

53.5%

female high school students with PMS

12.22%

female high school students with PMDD

368

total students surveyed

About the study

Original title: Prevalence of Premenstrual Syndrome, Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder and Associated Factors Among Female High School Students
Authors: Forough Boustani, Sara Ziagham, Azam Jahangirimehr et al.
Journal: The Journal of Qazvin University of Medical Sciences
Year: 2019
Study design: Survey study
Participants: 368
What was tested: None
Open access: Yes
Read the paper: doi.org/10.32598/jqums.23.4.332

Topics

Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)Premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD)Low mood and depression Psychotherapy, counselling and education Students and academic performance Adolescents and young people

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