---
title: How common is severe PMS and does it affect work attendance and healthcare visits?
description: Severe premenstrual symptoms were common, occurring in 44% of women with strong symptoms and 18% with acute symptoms. Women with severe symptoms were more lik
url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/severe-perimenstrual-symptoms-prevalence-and-effects-on-absenteeism-and-health-1988/
---

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- How common is severe PMS and does it affect work attendance and healthcare visits?

Survey study, 1988

# How common is severe PMS and does it affect work attendance and healthcare visits?

Severe premenstrual symptoms were common, occurring in 44% of women with strong symptoms and 18% with acute symptoms. Women with severe symptoms were more likely to miss work and visit doctors for menstrual problems.

 Early or limited evidence

308 nursing students

## What they did

308 nursing students completed a questionnaire that classified them into groups based on how severe their premenstrual symptoms were.

## What they found

Severe premenstrual symptoms occurred in 44% of women (strong symptoms) and 18% (acute symptoms). Severity was linked to missing work for menstrual reasons and seeking healthcare for menstrual problems, dysmenorrhea, and other gynecological issues. Severity was not linked to missing work for non-menstrual reasons or seeking healthcare for non-menstrual problems.

## What it means for you

Severe PMS affects work attendance mainly for menstrual-related reasons. The study was limited because it only included nursing students in 1988, so the findings may not apply to all women.

44%

had strong premenstrual symptoms

18%

had acute premenstrual symptoms

308

nursing students studied

## About the study

Original title Severe perimenstrual symptoms: prevalence and effects on absenteeism and health care seeking in a non-clinical sample Authors Busch CM, Costa PT Jr, Whitehead WE et al. Journal Women & health Year 1988 Study design Survey study What was tested None Read the paper [doi.org/10.1300/j013v14n01_05](https://doi.org/10.1300/j013v14n01_05)

## Topics

[Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pms/)[Dysmenorrhea and period pain](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-dysmenorrhea/)[Work and productivity](https://niyora.com/research/topics/life-area-work/)

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