--- title: How common are premenstrual symptoms in American women, and what factors affect them? description: Premenstrual symptoms are very common in American women, with over 30% experiencing weight gain, headache, mood changes, and other symptoms, though only 2% to url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/prevalene-of-perimenstrual-symptoms-1982/ --- - [Niyora](https://niyora.com/) - [Research](https://niyora.com/research/) - [Library](https://niyora.com/research/library/) - How common are premenstrual symptoms in American women, and what factors affect them? Survey study, 1982 # How common are premenstrual symptoms in American women, and what factors affect them? Premenstrual symptoms are very common in American women, with over 30% experiencing weight gain, headache, mood changes, and other symptoms, though only 2% to 8% found them severe. Moderate study design 179 American women aged 18 to 35 from five southeastern city neighborhoods (74% of eligible women approached) ## What they did Cross-sectional study where trained interviewers gave 179 women aged 18 to 35 (74% of 241 eligible) the Moos Menstrual Distress Questionnaire between March and July 1979. Women were from five southeastern city neighborhoods. ## What they found Symptoms with over 30% prevalence included weight gain, headache, skin disorders, cramps, anxiety, backache, fatigue, painful breasts, irritability, mood swings, depression, and tension. Only 2% to 8% of women found most symptoms severe or disabling, except 17% reported severe cramps and 12% reported severe irritability. Different symptoms peaked at different times in the cycle. ## What it means for you Premenstrual symptoms are widespread but usually mild. The study shows which factors increase risk (IUD use, longer cycles, heavier periods, and ability to predict the next period) and which decrease it (oral contraceptives, higher age, employment). However, this is one region of one country, limiting generalizability. 179 Women who participated (74% of 241 eligible) 30% Women with common symptoms like weight gain, headache, mood changes 2% to 8% Women finding most symptoms severe ## About the study Original title Prevalene of perimenstrual symptoms Authors Woods NF, Most A, Dery GK Journal American journal of public health Year 1982 Study design Survey study Participants 241 What was tested None; observational study examining existing factors Read the paper [doi.org/10.2105/ajph.72.11.1257](https://doi.org/10.2105/ajph.72.11.1257) ## Topics [Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pms/)[Dysmenorrhea and period pain](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-dysmenorrhea/)[Low mood and depression](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-depression-mood/)[Anxiety and tension](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-anxiety/)[Irritability and anger](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-irritability-anger/)[Mood swings and emotion regulation](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-emotional-regulation/)[Fatigue and energy](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-fatigue/)[Bloating, breast tenderness and physical symptoms](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-physical-symptoms/)[Pain and headache](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-pain/)[Oral contraceptives and drospirenone](https://niyora.com/research/topics/treatment-hormonal-contraceptives/)[Economic burden](https://niyora.com/research/topics/life-area-economic-burden/) 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. ## Related studies Survey study, 2016 Do hormonal contraceptives reduce PMS symptoms? Non-randomised trial, 1983 Do drugs that block prostaglandins help PMS? Survey study, 1982 Are premenstrual and menstrual symptoms separate problems or part of one larger problem? Randomised trial, 2021 Does hypnotherapy reduce pain and emotional distress in women with PMDD? Randomised trial, 2018 Does swimming reduce premenstrual syndrome symptoms? Survey study, 2026 Can changing your diet help with period and PMS symptoms like fatigue, mood swings and bloating? Ask AI about this page Copy prompt ChatGPT ↗ Claude ↗ Perplexity ↗ Google AI Mode ↗ Grok ↗