--- title: What factors affect the risk of getting PMDD? | Niyora description: In a large Polish study, only women's educational level significantly reduced PMDD risk. Most other reproductive and lifestyle factors tested did not show a s url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/the-complexity-of-premenstrual-dysphoric-disorder-risk-factors-in-the-population-2010/ --- - [Niyora](https://niyora.com/) - [Research](https://niyora.com/research/) - [Library](https://niyora.com/research/library/) - What factors affect the risk of getting PMDD? Cohort study, 2010 # What factors affect the risk of getting PMDD? In a large Polish study, only women's educational level significantly reduced PMDD risk. Most other reproductive and lifestyle factors tested did not show a significant effect. Moderate study design 1,540 women aged 18-45 from Upper Silesia, Poland ## What they did Prospective cohort study of 1,540 women aged 18-45 in Poland. They filled out questionnaires about their education, health, lifestyle, and reproductive history, and tracked premenstrual symptoms using DSM criteria over time. ## What they found The prevalence of PMDD was 2.1%. Only tertiary education (OR = 0.08, p < 0.05) decreased the risk of PMDD. Reproductive and lifestyle factors did not significantly affect risk. ## What it means for you Women with higher education may be less likely to develop PMDD, though the reason is unclear. The study was specific to Polish women aged 18-45 in one region, so results may not apply to all populations. The study found that most factors thought to cause PMDD did not do so in this group. 2.1% Prevalence of PMDD 1,540 Women studied 0.08 Odds ratio for tertiary education ## About the study Original title The complexity of premenstrual dysphoric disorder--risk factors in the population of Polish women Authors Skrzypulec-Plinta V, Drosdzol A, Nowosielski K et al. Journal Reproductive biology and endocrinology : RB&E Year 2010 Study design Cohort study Participants 2,500 Open access Yes Read the paper [doi.org/10.1186/1477-7827-8-141](https://doi.org/10.1186/1477-7827-8-141) Original abstract Background: Premenstrual dysphoric disorder has multiple determinants in the biological, psychological and socio-cultural domains. The aim of the study was to evaluate the risk factors for premenstrual dysphoric disorder in Polish women, considering their reproductive history, socio-economic factors, as well as lifestyle and health-related factors. Methods: 2,500 females, aged 18 to 45, from the Upper Silesian region of Poland were eligible for the prospective population study. The final study sample was 1,540 individuals. The research was based on a questionnaire containing socio-economic status, general health, lifestyle, medical and reproductive history, premenstrual symptoms based on the American Psychiatric Association's criteria for diagnosing premenstrual dysphoric disorder, and patient prospective daily ratings of symptoms. The Statistica 8.0 computer software was used for statistical analysis. The value of p < 0.05 was adopted as the level of statistical significance. Results: The mean age of the studied population was 31.9 +/- 7.3 years. The majority of the studied women were married (57.9%), lived in large cities (42.0%) and had tertiary education (43.2%). The results of the study indicated that the prevalence of premenstrual dysphoric disorder was 2.1%. The final statistical analysis revealed that only tertiary education decreased the risk of premenstrual dysphoric disorder (OR = 0.08; p < 0.05). Conclusions: Our research showed that women with tertiary education are less vulnerable to premenstrual dysphoric disorder than women with a lower level of education. Reproductive and lifestyle factors seem to be play a lesser role. Reproduced under CC-BY. ## 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/)[Work and productivity](https://niyora.com/research/topics/life-area-work/)[Economic burden](https://niyora.com/research/topics/life-area-economic-burden/) 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 Review, 2026 How much do PMS and menstrual disorders affect women's work, school, and quality of life? Survey study, 2002 What is the economic and work impact of premenstrual dysphoric disorder? Cohort study, 2002 Does PMDD cause more healthcare costs and work loss than other premenstrual symptoms? Cohort study, 2011 How common are PMS and PMDD in teenage girls, and what causes them? Cohort study, 2011 What is the economic burden of moderate to severe PMS or PMDD in Latin American women? Systematic review, 2026 Why do some women experience mood changes linked to their menstrual cycle? Ask AI about this page Copy prompt ChatGPT ↗ Claude ↗ Perplexity ↗ Google AI Mode ↗ Grok ↗