---
title: How many women have PMDD and how serious is it? | Niyora
description: 3-8 percent of women meet strict PMDD criteria, but 13-18 percent experience severe symptoms that disrupt daily life. The impact on quality of life is as seri
url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/the-prevalence-impairment-impact-and-burden-of-premenstrual-dysphoric-disorder-2003/
---

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- How many women have PMDD and how serious is it?

Survey study, 2003

# How many women have PMDD and how serious is it?

3-8 percent of women meet strict PMDD criteria, but 13-18 percent experience severe symptoms that disrupt daily life. The impact on quality of life is as serious as major depression.

 Moderate study design

Women of reproductive age across published epidemiological studies

## What they did

Researchers reviewed published studies about how common PMDD is, how much it impairs daily functioning, and its overall burden of disease in women of reproductive age.

## What they found

3-8 percent of women meet the diagnostic criteria for PMDD. 13-18 percent have severe premenstrual symptoms even if they do not meet the full diagnostic count of 5 symptoms. The quality of life impairment for PMDD is similar to dysthymic disorder and comparable to major depressive disorder. PMDD causes disability comparable to other major recognized disorders.

## What it means for you

PMDD is much more common and serious than often recognized, affecting work, relationships and daily life substantially. Effective treatments exist but are underused. This is a review of other studies rather than new research, so findings depend on the quality of prior work.

3-8%

Women meeting strict PMDD criteria

13-18%

With severe symptoms causing impairment

Major depression

Quality of life comparable to

## About the study

Original title The prevalence, impairment, impact, and burden of premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMS/PMDD) Authors Halbreich U, Borenstein J, Pearlstein T et al. Journal Psychoneuroendocrinology Year 2003 Study design Survey study What was tested Review of published epidemiological studies on PMDD Read the paper [doi.org/10.1016/s0306-4530(03)00098-2](https://doi.org/10.1016/s0306-4530(03)00098-2)

## 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/)[Major depressive disorder](https://niyora.com/research/topics/comorbidity-major-depression/)[Work and productivity](https://niyora.com/research/topics/life-area-work/)[Quality of life and daily functioning](https://niyora.com/research/topics/life-area-quality-of-life/)

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Calm down, see it another way, and decide what to say, with a PMS and PMDD app built by a doctor.

## Related studies

Study, 2026

What are premenstrual syndrome and premenstrual dysphoric disorder?

Review, 2009

How common are PMS and PMDD, and how much do they disrupt women's lives?

Systematic review, 2025

How common are PMS, PMDD, and painful periods in nursing students, and do they affect their schooling?

Systematic review, 2021

Are there hormone changes that could explain PMDD or depression in women?

Review, 2019

What is the current evidence for diagnosing and treating PMDD, especially in Indian women?

Non-randomised trial, 2008

Can the Sheehan Disability Scale measure whether treatments work?

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