Study, 1988
When do PMS symptoms happen during the menstrual cycle?
Most PMS symptoms (mood, bloating, constipation, food craving, breast discomfort) occur mainly in the 10 days before the period starts. Headaches happen differently, distributed roughly equally before and after the period starts.
What they did
44 women with PMS tracked 7 different moods and 5 physical symptoms every day for 133 complete menstrual cycles.
What they found
Most symptoms (the 7 moods and bloating, constipation, food craving, and breast discomfort) occurred mainly in the late phase of the cycle, with an average of 84.3% of these symptoms happening in the 10 days before menstruation. Headaches were different: only 53.8% of peak headaches occurred in the 10 days before menstruation, meaning they were distributed roughly equally before and after the period started.
What it means for you
This shows most PMS symptoms are truly premenstrual, but headaches occur around the period, suggesting a different cause. Tracking many cycles in the same women provides strong evidence. The main limit is all participants had PMS, so we do not know if this pattern differs from women without PMS.
44
women tracked
133
menstrual cycles tracked
84.3%
average percent of non-headache symptoms in the 10 days before period
About the study
- Original title
- The premenstrual syndrome: moods, headaches and physical symptoms in 133 menstrual cycles
- Authors
- Mary G. Metcalf, James Livesey, Stephen M. Hudson et al.
- Journal
- Journal of Psychosomatic Obstetrics & Gynecology
- Year
- 1988
- Study design
- Study
- Participants
- 44
- Read the paper
- doi.org/10.3109/01674828809016779
Topics
Related studies
Cohort study, 2025
How common is PMS in Chinese teenage girls, and what factors are linked to it?
Systematic review, 2023
What hormonal treatments have been tested for PMDD, menstrual migraine, and catamenial epilepsy?
Systematic review, 2021
Does damask rose help reduce menstrual pain, headache, fatigue, anxiety, and bloating?
Randomised trial, 2015
Which birth control pill better reduces PMS and menstrual symptoms: nomegestrol acetate or drospirenone?
Lab study, 2026
Do core stability exercises help women with PMDD?
Study, 2026
What are premenstrual syndrome and premenstrual dysphoric disorder?