---
title: What percentage of women have premenstrual tension symptoms? | Niyora
description: Half the women in the study had at least one type of premenstrual tension symptom. Anxiety and mood changes, and swelling and bloating, were the most common t
url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/the-incidence-of-premenstrual-tension-in-a-gynecologic-clinic-1982/
---

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- What percentage of women have premenstrual tension symptoms?

Survey study, 1982

# What percentage of women have premenstrual tension symptoms?

Half the women in the study had at least one type of premenstrual tension symptom. Anxiety and mood changes, and swelling and bloating, were the most common types.

 Early or limited evidence

1,395 women aged 13 to 54 years (average 32) visiting a gynecology clinic, not using hormonal contraceptives

## What they did

A questionnaire about 19 premenstrual symptoms was given to 1,395 women visiting a gynecology clinic who were not using hormonal contraceptives. The symptoms were grouped into four types.

## What they found

702 out of 1,395 women (50%) reported at least one type of premenstrual tension symptom. In women in their 20s, 60% had symptoms. The most common types were anxiety and mood changes, and swelling and bloating. Depression, forgetfulness and crying together occurred in only 12 women by itself.

## What it means for you

Half of women in a gynecology clinic experience premenstrual symptoms. The study was done in one clinic in 1982 and women were assessed only once, so we don't know how common these are more broadly or how they vary across cycles.

50%

of women with at least one symptom type

60%

in women in their 20s

12

with depression symptoms alone

## About the study

Original title The incidence of premenstrual tension in a gynecologic clinic Authors Hargrove JT, Abraham GE Journal The Journal of reproductive medicine Year 1982 Study design Survey study Participants 1,395 What was tested None Read the paper [https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/6891720/](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/6891720/)

## Topics

[Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pms/)[Anxiety and tension](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-anxiety/)[Appetite and food cravings](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-food-cravings/)[Bloating, breast tenderness and physical symptoms](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-physical-symptoms/)[Oral contraceptives and drospirenone](https://niyora.com/research/topics/treatment-hormonal-contraceptives/)[Adolescents and young people](https://niyora.com/research/topics/life-area-adolescents/)

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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