Premenstrual Syndrome: Existence, Knowledge, and Attitude Among Female University Students in Karachi

Abstract

Objective The aim of this study was to investigate the existence, knowledge, and the attitude of female students towards premenstrual syndrome (PMS). Methods This cross-sectional study was conducted in three universities in Karachi, Pakistan. A total of 448 female students participated in the study. The clinical criterion of American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) for PMS was used to assess the prevalence of PMS in the participants. The questionnaire was set in four parts, one each to assess the knowledge, the attitude, and practices regarding PMS and one to assess the gap between self-perceived PMS and actual PMS. Data were analyzed descriptively using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS), version 20 (IBM SPSS Statistics, Armonk, NY). Results The majority (96.4%) of female students were aware of PMS, while only 19% females knew about premenstrual dysphoric disorder. The self-reported prevalence of PMS was 79.5% and the prevalence using the ACOG criteria was 23.9%. Common symptoms were irritability, angry outbursts, depression, breast tenderness, and gastrointestinal problems. More than half (60.4%) of the participants reported PMS disturbed their normal routine, while 81.5% reported stress exacerbated their symptoms. The majority (77.5%) of women believed PMS was a significant issue to be discussed but 49.4% did not take treatment for their PMS. Conclusion There is a significant impact of PMS in the lives of Pakistani women, and it is a common problem all over the globe. Despite the growing awareness, there remains a considerable deficiency of knowledge about the necessity to consult a doctor or seek treatment for their symptoms.

A potential relation between premenstrual symptoms and subjective perception of health and stress among college students: a cross-sectional study

“…Regardless of severity, the ten symptoms most often occurring among the participants include: skin disorders, irritability, fatigue, mood swings, general aches and pains, lowered school or work performance, backache, painful breasts, weight gain, and swelling. The results of our study agree with those reported in earlier studies, which indicate that regardless of ethnicity, women in their late teens and early twenties frequently experience such premenstrual complications [4, 19, 21, 24, 26, 28]. As to the severity, epidemiological surveys found a certain percentage (7.7–26.6%) of college students suffering from PMDD—a particularly severe form of PMS defined as a distinct premenstrual affective disorder [29, 30].…”

“…Although research designs and methods differ among the studies, and most of them are based on retrospective rather than prospective recording, the findings have been reasonably congruent. They indicate that nearly 90% of women of reproductive age experience at least one cyclical premenstrual symptom [2, 4, 19, 26, 27]. The present study demonstrated that, with one exception, 199 students (99.5%) experienced at least one symptom listed on the MDQ premenstrually.…”

“…We assessed subjective perception of health with the question: “What do you think about your current health status?” (“very healthy,” “healthy,” “unhealthy,” or “very unhealthy”). Earlier research revealed that perceived stress has significant effects on increased premenstrual complaints [2, 15–19]. Thus, this study also assessed self-rating of stress among the participants by asking: “How would you rate your current stress level?” (“non-stressful,” “slightly stressful,” “stressful,” or “very stressful”).…”

Community Pharmacists’ Knowledge, Attitude, and Practice in Providing Self-Care Recommendations for the Management of Premenstrual Syndrome

“…The other studies reported similar findings to ours. In a Karachi study that involved medical students, the participants were found to have good understanding of PMS [24]. In contrast, the women in three metropolises of Pakistan were found to have limited knowledge of PMS [25].…”

“…Many of the respondents knew that PMS could adversely affect quality of life. In a cross-sectional study conducted among female university students in Karachi, 60.4% of the participants reported that PMS affected their normal routine, 35.4% reported missing school or work, and 40.2% reported missing social events because of PMS [24].…”