---
title: Do women with PMDD have similar pain and symptoms to women with fibromyalgia?
description: Women with PMDD had significantly more pain, tenderness, mental health problems, and lower quality of life than control women. The study was small and used me
url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/the-premenstrual-syndrome-and-fibromyalgia-similarities-and-common-features-2010/
---

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- Do women with PMDD have similar pain and symptoms to women with fibromyalgia?

Survey study, 2010

# Do women with PMDD have similar pain and symptoms to women with fibromyalgia?

Women with PMDD had significantly more pain, tenderness, mental health problems, and lower quality of life than control women. The study was small and used medical staff as controls, which may not be representative.

 Early or limited evidence

30 women with PMDD and 26 control women from a general psychiatry department

## What they did

30 women with PMDD and 26 control women from medical staff completed detailed questionnaires and physical exams. They were assessed for pain, tenderness, sleep, fatigue, disability, quality of life, and mental health conditions.

## What they found

Women with PMDD scored significantly higher on pain and tenderness. 16 of 30 PMDD women had a psychiatric condition compared to only 3 of 26 control women. 5 women in the PMDD group had fibromyalgia, but none in the control group. Quality of life was significantly lower in the PMDD group.

## What it means for you

PMDD is associated with more pain, more mental health conditions, and lower quality of life. The study was small and used medical staff as controls rather than a random sample, limiting how well results apply to all women.

30 vs 26

women with PMDD and control group

16 of 30

PMDD women with psychiatric conditions

5

PMDD women with fibromyalgia

## About the study

Original title The premenstrual syndrome and fibromyalgia--similarities and common features Authors Amital D, Herskovitz C, Fostick L et al. Journal Clinical reviews in allergy & immunology Year 2010 Study design Survey study Participants 30 What was tested None (comparison study) Read the paper [doi.org/10.1007/s12016-009-8143-0](https://doi.org/10.1007/s12016-009-8143-0)

## Topics

[Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pms/)[Premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pmdd/)[Pain and headache](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-pain/)[Chronic pain and fibromyalgia](https://niyora.com/research/topics/comorbidity-chronic-pain/)[Quality of life and daily functioning](https://niyora.com/research/topics/life-area-quality-of-life/)

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