---
title: Do women with PMS drink more alcohol? | Niyora
description: Yes. Women with PMS reported drinking significantly more alcohol than women without PMS, and this was true across the whole month, not just before their perio
url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/reported-alcohol-use-in-women-with-premenstrual-syndrome-1994/
---

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- Do women with PMS drink more alcohol?

Cohort study, 1994

# Do women with PMS drink more alcohol?

Yes. Women with PMS reported drinking significantly more alcohol than women without PMS, and this was true across the whole month, not just before their period.

 Early or limited evidence

21 women with confirmed PMS and 16 comparison women

## What they did

Researchers followed 21 women with confirmed PMS and 16 comparison women over time, tracking their alcohol use.

## What they found

Women with PMS reported much greater alcohol use overall compared to control women. The higher drinking was not limited to the premenstrual phase and did not correlate with premenstrual mood or food cravings.

## What it means for you

Women with PMS may drink more regularly, not specifically to manage premenstrual symptoms. This is a small study and doesn't prove PMS causes higher drinking.

21

women with PMS

16

comparison women

## About the study

Original title Reported alcohol use in women with premenstrual syndrome Authors Tobin MB, Schmidt PJ, Rubinow DR Journal The American journal of psychiatry Year 1994 Study design Cohort study Participants 21 What was tested Observation of alcohol use in women with and without PMS Read the paper [doi.org/10.1176/ajp.151.10.1503](https://doi.org/10.1176/ajp.151.10.1503)

## Topics

[Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pms/)[Alcohol, smoking and substance use](https://niyora.com/research/topics/comorbidity-substance-use/)

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.

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