---
title: How common is PMS in medical students? | Niyora
description: All of the medical students surveyed had at least some PMS symptoms, even if mild. Irritability and compulsivity were the most common symptoms. Earlier years
url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/prevalencia-da-sindrome-pre-menstrual-e-seus-principais-sintomas-observados-em-1970/
---

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- How common is PMS in medical students?

Survey study, 1970

# How common is PMS in medical students?

All of the medical students surveyed had at least some PMS symptoms, even if mild. Irritability and compulsivity were the most common symptoms. Earlier years of study had slightly worse symptoms than later years.

 Early or limited evidence

Medical students at a Brazilian medical school who enrolled between 2005 and 2011

## What they did

Researchers surveyed medical students who started at a Brazilian medical school between 2005 and 2011. Students reported their PMS symptoms on a questionnaire that classified them by symptom severity.

## What they found

100% of students in every year of study had some PMS symptoms. Second year students had the highest average symptom score at 41.7 points, and sixth year students had the lowest at 36.1 points. Irritability and compulsivity were the most frequently reported symptoms.

## What it means for you

PMS is widespread in this student population, matching what is known about PMS worldwide. This study only included medical students at one school in Brazil, so results may not apply to other women or settings. Symptom severity may vary depending on life stress and year of study.

100%

students with some PMS symptoms

41.7

average symptom score year 2

36.1

average symptom score year 6

## About the study

Original title Prevalência da Síndrome Pré-menstrual e seus Principais Sintomas Observados em Acadêmicas do Curso de Medicina de uma Faculdade do Sul de Minas Gerais/Prevalence of Premenstrual Syndrome and its Main Symptoms Observed in Students of a Medical School Cours Authors Miguel da Silva Diniz, Andreza Cristina Souza Lima, Hildebrando Pereira et al. Journal REVISTA CIÊNCIAS EM SAÚDE Year 1970 Study design Survey study What was tested None Open access Yes Read the paper [doi.org/10.21876/rcsfmit.v3i2.250](https://doi.org/10.21876/rcsfmit.v3i2.250)

## Topics

[Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pms/)[Irritability and anger](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-irritability-anger/)[Students and academic performance](https://niyora.com/research/topics/life-area-education/)

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