---
title: How often do women experience suicidal thoughts during the premenstrual period?
description: About 10% of women reported suicidal ideas or death wishes during the premenstrual period, especially those with other PMS symptoms like depression and irrita
url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/suicidal-ideas-during-premenstrual-phase-1995/
---

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- How often do women experience suicidal thoughts during the premenstrual period?

Case-control study, 1995

# How often do women experience suicidal thoughts during the premenstrual period?

About 10% of women reported suicidal ideas or death wishes during the premenstrual period, especially those with other PMS symptoms like depression and irritability, though we cannot prove PMS causes these thoughts.

 Early or limited evidence

296 women from urban, rural, industrial, and college populations

## What they did

Survey of 296 women from urban, rural, industrial, and college populations about whether they experienced suicidal thoughts or death wishes during the premenstrual period and which PMS symptoms they had.

## What they found

30 out of 296 women (10%) reported suicidal ideas or death wishes during the premenstrual period. These were more common among college students and industrial working women and less common among housewives. Women with suicidal ideas reported significantly more PMS symptoms (depression, irritability, mood swings, loss of control, and water retention) than women without suicidal ideas.

## What it means for you

About 1 in 10 women may experience suicidal thoughts before their period, especially if they have other PMS symptoms. The study shows these occur together but does not prove PMS causes them. The sample included different populations which strengthens the findings.

296

women surveyed in total

30 (10%)

with premenstrual suicidal thoughts

Students/workers

groups with higher rates of suicidal ideas

## About the study

Original title Suicidal ideas during premenstrual phase Authors Chaturvedi SK, Chandra PS, Gururaj G et al. Journal Journal of affective disorders Year 1995 Study design Case-control study Participants 296 What was tested None (observational survey) Read the paper [doi.org/10.1016/0165-0327(95)00017-h](https://doi.org/10.1016/0165-0327(95)00017-h)

## Topics

[Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pms/)[Low mood and depression](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-depression-mood/)[Irritability and anger](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-irritability-anger/)[Suicidality](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-suicidality/)[Students and academic performance](https://niyora.com/research/topics/life-area-education/)

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