---
title: What are the main types of premenstrual symptoms women experience?
description: A study of 702 Dutch women identified four main symptom types: negative mood, concentration problems, pain, and water retention. This shows that psychological
url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/the-factor-structure-of-the-menstrual-distress-questionnaire-dutch-1990/
---

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- What are the main types of premenstrual symptoms women experience?

Survey study, 1990

# What are the main types of premenstrual symptoms women experience?

A study of 702 Dutch women identified four main symptom types: negative mood, concentration problems, pain, and water retention. This shows that psychological symptoms are as important as physical ones in premenstrual syndrome.

 Moderate study design

702 Dutch women with high likelihood of premenstrual symptoms

## What they did

Researchers studied 702 Dutch women selected for high likelihood of premenstrual symptoms. They completed a questionnaire about menstrual cycle symptoms. Researchers analyzed responses to identify natural groupings of symptoms.

## What they found

Instead of the original symptom patterns, four distinct factors emerged: negative affect, concentration problems, pain, and water retention.

## What it means for you

Premenstrual symptoms cluster into four distinct types, with mood and thinking problems equally important as physical symptoms like pain and bloating. This is a large study but only included Dutch women selected for expected symptoms, so results may not apply to all women or other populations.

702

Women studied

4 types

Main symptom groups found

Dutch

Country of study population

## About the study

Original title The factor structure of the Menstrual Distress Questionnaire--Dutch Authors Van Der Ploeg HM Journal Psychological reports Year 1990 Study design Survey study Participants 702 What was tested None, questionnaire analysis only Read the paper [doi.org/10.2466/pr0.1990.66.3.707](https://doi.org/10.2466/pr0.1990.66.3.707)

## Topics

[Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pms/)[Stigma, attitudes and culture](https://niyora.com/research/topics/life-area-stigma-culture/)

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.

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Randomised trial, 2006

What herbs and dietary supplements have evidence for treating premenstrual syndrome?

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