---
title: How often do doctors diagnose PMS and what treatments do they prescribe?
description: PMS diagnoses recorded in UK primary care fell dramatically from 8.43 per 1000 women in 1995 to 1.72 in 2013. Treatment shifted from progestogens and vitamin
url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/recording-and-treatment-of-premenstrual-syndrome-in-uk-general-practice-a-2016/
---

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- How often do doctors diagnose PMS and what treatments do they prescribe?

Cohort study, 2016

# How often do doctors diagnose PMS and what treatments do they prescribe?

PMS diagnoses recorded in UK primary care fell dramatically from 8.43 per 1000 women in 1995 to 1.72 in 2013. Treatment shifted from progestogens and vitamin B6 to SSRIs and oral contraceptives.

 Moderate study design

38,614 women in UK primary care (1995-2013)

## What they did

Retrospective cohort study analysing records of 38,614 women with a PMS diagnosis in UK primary care from 1995 to 2013. Researchers tracked when PMS was first recorded and what medications were prescribed on or within 24 months of that diagnosis.

## What they found

Recording rates declined from 8.43 to 1.72 per 1000 person years. Between 1995-1999, the most common prescriptions on the day of diagnosis were progestogens (23%) and vitamin B6 (20%). After 1999, prescriptions changed to SSRIs (28%) and combined oral contraceptives (17%). Overall, 54% received a prescription on the day of diagnosis and 77% received one within 24 months.

## What it means for you

Doctors are recording fewer PMS diagnoses over time, and the treatments they choose have shifted significantly. This describes trends in practice but does not show whether these treatments work.

8.43

PMS diagnoses per 1000 women in 1995

1.72

PMS diagnoses per 1000 women in 2013

28%

prescribed SSRIs after 1999

## About the study

Original title Recording and treatment of premenstrual syndrome in UK general practice: a retrospective cohort study Authors Sammon CJ, Nazareth I, Petersen I Journal BMJ open Year 2016 Study design Cohort study Participants 38,614 What was tested None; observational study of PMS diagnosis and treatment patterns Open access Yes Read the paper [doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2015-010244](https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2015-010244)

## Topics

[Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pms/)[SSRIs and antidepressants](https://niyora.com/research/topics/treatment-ssri/)[Oral contraceptives and drospirenone](https://niyora.com/research/topics/treatment-hormonal-contraceptives/)[GnRH agonists and ovarian suppression](https://niyora.com/research/topics/treatment-gnrh/)[Vitamin B6](https://niyora.com/research/topics/treatment-vitamin-b6/)[Diagnosis experience and healthcare access](https://niyora.com/research/topics/life-area-healthcare-access/)

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