--- title: Does alcohol use increase the risk of developing PMS or PMDD? description: Alcohol use is not strongly linked to developing PMS or PMDD. Starting to drink before age 18 or long-term drinking may minimally increase risk, but the incre url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/timing-of-alcohol-use-and-the-incidence-of-premenstrual-syndrome-and-probable-2009/ --- - [Niyora](https://niyora.com/) - [Research](https://niyora.com/research/) - [Library](https://niyora.com/research/library/) - Does alcohol use increase the risk of developing PMS or PMDD? Case-control study, 2009 # Does alcohol use increase the risk of developing PMS or PMDD? Alcohol use is not strongly linked to developing PMS or PMDD. Starting to drink before age 18 or long-term drinking may minimally increase risk, but the increases are small. Moderate study design 1057 women aged 27-44 who developed PMS and 1968 control women from Nurses' Health Study II ## What they did Case-control study nested in prospective Nurses' Health Study II of women aged 27-44 without PMS at baseline (1991). Researchers followed 1057 women who developed PMS over 10 years (762 also met PMDD criteria) and 1968 control women. Alcohol use was assessed by questionnaire at multiple time points. ## What they found Alcohol use was not strongly associated with developing PMS or PMDD. Risk ratio for highest cumulative alcohol vs never drinking was 1.19 (95% CI 0.84-1.67) for PMS and 1.28 (95% CI 0.86-1.91) for PMDD. In leaner women there was a positive relationship (p trend=0.002). Women who first drank before age 18 had risk ratios of 1.26 (95% CI 0.91-1.75) for PMS and 1.35 (95% CI 0.93-1.98) for PMDD vs never drinkers. ## What it means for you No strong link between alcohol and PMS/PMDD development. Early drinking and long-term use may increase risk slightly, but the increases are not statistically significant. Main limitation: alcohol use was measured before symptoms developed, so researchers could not determine if women who developed symptoms later changed their drinking. 1.19 risk ratio for PMS with highest vs no alcohol use 1.26 risk ratio for PMS when first drinking before age 18 10 years length of follow-up ## About the study Original title Timing of alcohol use and the incidence of premenstrual syndrome and probable premenstrual dysphoric disorder Authors Bertone-Johnson ER, Hankinson SE, Johnson SR et al. Journal Journal of women's health (2002) Year 2009 Study design Case-control study Participants 1,057 What was tested None Open access Yes Read the paper [doi.org/10.1089/jwh.2009.1468](https://doi.org/10.1089/jwh.2009.1468) ## 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/)[Anxiety disorders and OCD](https://niyora.com/research/topics/comorbidity-anxiety-disorders/)[Alcohol, smoking and substance use](https://niyora.com/research/topics/comorbidity-substance-use/)[Work and productivity](https://niyora.com/research/topics/life-area-work/) 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. ## Related studies Study, 2009 Can the standard mental health diagnostic interview assess PMS and PMDD adequately? Survey study, 2026 What lifestyle and work factors are linked to PMDD symptoms in Chinese nurses? Study, 2026 What are premenstrual syndrome and premenstrual dysphoric disorder? Review, 2002 What are the reproductive-related mood disorders and how are they connected? Review, 2000 What conditions beyond depression can antidepressants treat? Survey study, 2026 Are PMDD, anxiety, and internet use linked to cognitive problems in women? Ask AI about this page Copy prompt ChatGPT ↗ Claude ↗ Perplexity ↗ Google AI Mode ↗ Grok ↗