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

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