---
title: Does a history of premenstrual problems predict worse symptoms during menopause?
description: Yes. Women who had premenstrual problems experienced more physical and psychological symptoms during the menopause transition.
url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/relationships-between-premenstrual-complaints-and-perimenopausal-experiences-1998/
---

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- Does a history of premenstrual problems predict worse symptoms during menopause?

Survey study, 1998

# Does a history of premenstrual problems predict worse symptoms during menopause?

Yes. Women who had premenstrual problems experienced more physical and psychological symptoms during the menopause transition.

 Moderate study design

291 urban women aged 45-55; 104 with prior premenstrual complaints, 187 without

## What they did

Randomly selected 291 urban women aged 45-55 and interviewed them yearly for three years. They compared symptoms in women with a history of premenstrual complaints (104 women) to those without (187 women).

## What they found

Women with prior premenstrual complaints had more symptoms during menopause, including low mood, skeletal symptoms, digestive and respiratory symptoms. They also reported more interpersonal stress, frequent hassles, higher current smoking rates, and less exercise.

## What it means for you

Having had premenstrual problems predicts a more difficult menopause transition. However, the study cannot show whether this is due to shared biology, stress, lifestyle factors, or a combination. It only included urban women in one time period.

104

with history of premenstrual complaints

187

without prior premenstrual problems

3

years of yearly interviews

## About the study

Original title Relationships between premenstrual complaints and perimenopausal experiences Authors Morse CA, Dudley E, Guthrie J et al. Journal Journal of psychosomatic obstetrics and gynaecology Year 1998 Study design Survey study Participants 187 What was tested None Read the paper [doi.org/10.3109/01674829809025696](https://doi.org/10.3109/01674829809025696)

## Topics

[Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pms/)[Stress](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-stress/)[Exercise and yoga](https://niyora.com/research/topics/treatment-exercise/)[Alcohol, smoking and substance use](https://niyora.com/research/topics/comorbidity-substance-use/)[Perimenopause and menopause](https://niyora.com/research/topics/comorbidity-perimenopause/)[Relationships and partners](https://niyora.com/research/topics/life-area-relationships/)

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