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.
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
Topics
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