Prevalence of Premenstrual Syndrome and Associated Factors Among Academics of a University in Midwest Brazil

Abstract

Objective To investigate the prevalence of premenstrual syndrome (PMS) and premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) in university students, the factors associated with PMS, the most prevalent symptoms, and the interference of symptoms in academic, family, social, and work activities. Methods This cross-sectional study included 1,115 university students aged ≥ 18 years from the University of Rio Verde, Goiás. Premenstrual syndrome and PMDD were identified using the Premenstrual Symptoms Screening Tool. Associations with sociodemographic, behavioral, reproductive, nutritional, and health factors were investigated using the Poisson regression. Results The prevalence of PMS was 46.9% (95% confidence interval [CI] 44.0–49.8), and of PMDD, 11.1% (95% CI 9.3–13.0). The most prevalent symptoms were physical, such as breast tenderness, bloating, e weight gain (73%); followed by psychological ones such as overeating/food cravings, tearful/more sensitive to rejection (> 60%). More than 30% of the patients reported that the symptoms interfered in a moderate-to-severe way in their social and academic activities. After adjusted analysis, PMS was more prevalent in those who were attending the 1st/2nd semester of college (prevalence ratio [PR] 1.44; 95% CI 1.14–1.80), those who consumed alcohol in the last 30 days (PR 1.23; 95% CI 1.04–1.47), and those who had depression (PR 1.49; 95% CI 1.30–1.71). Conclusion Almost half of the university students had PMS and ∼ 11%, PMDD. Physical symptoms were the most common and interfered in a moderate-to-severe way in various aspects of life. Attending the first semesters, consuming alcohol, and having depression were risk factors for PMS. The identification of risk factors for PMS is essential to prevent symptoms and reduce the impact of the syndrome.

The prevalence of menstrual disorders and their association with psychological stress in Syrian students enrolled at health‐related schools: A cross‐sectional study

“…The incidence rate of this disorder was remarkably higher compared to other studies, where the incidence rate ranged between 35.6% and 80.5% in studies conducted on university students. [41][42][43][44] The most prevalent symptoms of PMS vary in frequency between populations. For example, in this study, the most common PMS symptom was backache (69%), followed by mood swings (68%) and tiredness (62%), while the most common symptom in the previously mentioned Rafique and Al-Sheikh study was mood swings (46%), followed by tiredness (43.5%) and generalized pains (37.4%).…”

Top 100 Cited Papers on Premenstrual Syndrome/Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder: A Bibliometric Study

“…Collectively, these articles provide reliable data sources to better our understanding of PMS/PMDD, including incidence rate. In recent years, numerous studies have evaluated childhood body size and premenstrual disorders in young adulthood ( 36 ), comorbid bipolar disorder ( 37 ), prevalence, and associated factors among different groups ( 38 ). For instance, studies showed that the prevalence of PMS among Academics at a University in Midwest Brazil was 46.9% ( 38 ), and 21.1% for university students ( 39 ), which are higher than ever before.…”

“…In recent years, numerous studies have evaluated childhood body size and premenstrual disorders in young adulthood ( 36 ), comorbid bipolar disorder ( 37 ), prevalence, and associated factors among different groups ( 38 ). For instance, studies showed that the prevalence of PMS among Academics at a University in Midwest Brazil was 46.9% ( 38 ), and 21.1% for university students ( 39 ), which are higher than ever before. Moreover, risk factors for PMS/PMDD include childhood abuse and neglect ( 40 ), childhood maltreatment ( 41 ), and perinatal depression ( 42 ), among others.…”

Impact of nutritional diet therapy on premenstrual syndrome

“…Lifestyle modification and regular exercise may have a more pronounced positive effect in milder cases of PMS (16). At the same time, it is recommended to minimize the intake of salt, caffeine, and tobacco (15,(67)(68)(69). A study of students in the United Arab Emirates reported that fruit consumption was associated with a reduced risk of behavioral symptoms, and smoking and consumption of caloric foods (high in fat, sugar, and salt) were identified as risk factors vital for PMS (25).…”