---
title: How common is sexual abuse history in women seeking treatment for severe PMS?
description: Very common. Of 42 interviewed women, 95% reported at least one sexual abuse event, and 81% reported completed penetration against their will. Most also had u
url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/prevalence-of-sexual-abuse-history-in-a-sample-of-women-seeking-treatment-for-2000/
---

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- How common is sexual abuse history in women seeking treatment for severe PMS?

Randomised trial, 2000

# How common is sexual abuse history in women seeking treatment for severe PMS?

Very common. Of 42 interviewed women, 95% reported at least one sexual abuse event, and 81% reported completed penetration against their will. Most also had undiagnosed post-traumatic stress disorder.

 Early or limited evidence

42 women (mean age 38) seeking treatment for severe PMS

## What they did

Cross-sectional study interviewing 42 of 77 women in a randomized trial for PMS treatment about their sexual abuse history and past trauma.

## What they found

95% of interviewed women reported at least one attempted or completed sexual abuse event. 81% reported completed penetration against their will, and 85% of abused women sustained physical threat or harm. 65% were estimated to have post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). 83% had never disclosed the abuse to a health practitioner.

## What it means for you

Many women with severe PMS have experienced childhood or adolescent sexual abuse and may have undiagnosed PTSD that doctors don't know about. These rates are higher than in general populations. The study is small with only 42 women interviewed.

95%

reported at least one abuse event

81%

reported completed penetration against will

65%

estimated to have PTSD

## About the study

Original title Prevalence of sexual abuse history in a sample of women seeking treatment for premenstrual syndrome Authors Golding JM, Taylor DL, Menard L et al. Journal Journal of psychosomatic obstetrics and gynaecology Year 2000 Study design Randomised trial Participants 77 What was tested Sexual abuse history assessment and trauma screening Read the paper [doi.org/10.3109/01674820009075612](https://doi.org/10.3109/01674820009075612)

## Topics

[Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pms/)[Stress](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-stress/)[PTSD and trauma](https://niyora.com/research/topics/comorbidity-ptsd-trauma/)[Work and productivity](https://niyora.com/research/topics/life-area-work/)[Adolescents and young people](https://niyora.com/research/topics/life-area-adolescents/)

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