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.
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
Topics
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