---
title: Do women with PMS have real trouble with focus and memory, or just feel like they do?
description: Women with PMS report problems with focus, memory, and organization, and these self-reported problems are strongly linked to PMS symptoms. However, when teste
url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/self-reported-executive-function-and-not-performance-based-measures-strongly-2021/
---

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- Do women with PMS have real trouble with focus and memory, or just feel like they do?

Survey study, 2021

# Do women with PMS have real trouble with focus and memory, or just feel like they do?

Women with PMS report problems with focus, memory, and organization, and these self-reported problems are strongly linked to PMS symptoms. However, when tested on actual focus and memory tasks, they do not perform noticeably worse.

 Early or limited evidence

157 Mexican women divided into three groups: 78 without PMS, 67 with PMS, 12 with PMDD

## What they did

Cross-sectional study comparing 157 Mexican women with no PMS, PMS, or PMDD. They rated their own executive function (focus, planning, memory) during their period and regular cycle, and took performance tests on Stroop, Trail Making, and Letter-Number Sequencing tasks.

## What they found

Self-reported executive function problems were strongly associated with PMS and PMDD symptoms during the luteal phase (late cycle). Performance tests showed only weak associations with symptoms. The groups were 78 women without PMS, 67 with PMS, and 12 with PMDD.

## What it means for you

Women with PMS likely experience real difficulty with focus and memory during their period, and this is closely linked to their other PMS symptoms. However, actual test performance may not show measurable deficits. This was a small study in one country.

157

women studied

67

with PMS

12

with PMDD

## About the study

Original title Self-reported executive function, and not performance-based measures, strongly associates with symptoms of premenstrual syndrome/premenstrual dysphoric disorder Authors Frida Itzel Meza-Moreno, María José Pimienta-Alcaraz, María Fernanda Vázquez-Valdez et al. Journal Salud Mental Year 2021 Study design Survey study Participants 78 What was tested Executive function testing and symptom assessment Open access Yes Read the paper [doi.org/10.17711/sm.0185-3325.2021.012](https://doi.org/10.17711/sm.0185-3325.2021.012)

## Topics

[Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pms/)[Premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pmdd/)[Low mood and depression](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-depression-mood/)[Cognition, concentration and memory](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-cognition/)[Quality of life and daily functioning](https://niyora.com/research/topics/life-area-quality-of-life/)

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, 2020

What symptoms best predict whether PMDD will seriously affect daily life?

Randomised trial, 2019

Does online cognitive behavioral therapy help women with PMDD?

Review, 2013

What treatments work best for PMDD?

Systematic review, 2026

Do digital tools and apps help reduce PMS and PMDD symptoms?

Survey study, 2026

Do women with PMS have lasting problems with focus and impulse control throughout their cycle?

Survey study, 2026

Are PMS and PMDD the same condition or are they different?

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