---
title: Do women with sickle cell disease have more severe PMS symptoms than other women?
description: Women with sickle cell disease had similar rates and severity of PMS as healthy women (68% versus 78%). However, they showed lower depression scores related t
url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/the-severity-of-premenstrual-syndrome-symptoms-in-sickle-cell-disease-patients-a-2019/
---

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- Do women with sickle cell disease have more severe PMS symptoms than other women?

Case-control study, 2019

# Do women with sickle cell disease have more severe PMS symptoms than other women?

Women with sickle cell disease had similar rates and severity of PMS as healthy women (68% versus 78%). However, they showed lower depression scores related to PMS, possibly because they are accustomed to more severe chronic pain.

 Early or limited evidence

50 women with sickle cell disease and 50 healthy women, all aged 18 years and older

## What they did

Case-control study comparing 50 women with sickle cell disease to 50 healthy women, all aged 18 years or older. Both groups completed a 21-item questionnaire and the Premenstrual Syndrome Scale to assess PMS frequency and severity from January to March 2018.

## What they found

PMS was found in 68% (34 women) of the sickle cell group and 78% (39 women) of the control group. Mean depressive effect subscale scores were lower in the sickle cell group (15.64 plus or minus 6.56 versus 19.48 plus or minus 6.67).

## What it means for you

Women with sickle cell disease do not appear to suffer worse PMS than other women. The lower depression scores might reflect that they already manage more severe chronic pain. This was a small single-hospital study, so results may not apply widely.

68% vs 78%

PMS prevalence in sickle cell versus control groups

15.64 vs 19.48

Depressive subscale scores (SD 6.56 vs 6.67)

50 vs 50

Study sample size

## About the study

Original title The Severity of Premenstrual Syndrome Symptoms in Sickle Cell Disease Patients: A Case- Control Study Authors Pınar Döner, Sabahat USLUSOY, Gül İlhan et al. Journal Konuralp Tıp Dergisi Year 2019 Study design Case-control study Participants 50 What was tested No intervention; groups compared for PMS characteristics Open access Yes Read the paper [doi.org/10.18521/ktd.521303](https://doi.org/10.18521/ktd.521303)

## Topics

[Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pms/)[Low mood and depression](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-depression-mood/)[Pain and headache](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-pain/)[Chronic pain and fibromyalgia](https://niyora.com/research/topics/comorbidity-chronic-pain/)

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