Prevalence of menstrual cycle symptom cyclicity and premenstrual dysphoric disorder in a random sample of women using and not using oral contraceptives

Abstract

The normalcy of cyclicity found in this study might explain the high prevalence of premenstrual syndrome in many recall surveys. The importance of prospective daily ratings for establishing symptom cyclicity in women cannot be over emphasized.

The effect of premenstrual symptoms on activities of daily life

“…Nevertheless, we found an overall prevalence for PMDD type of 3% and that this varied between countries from 5.6% for Mexico to 1% for Hungary. Thus prevalence of this approximation for PMDD was similar to those reported using clinician assessment or daily rating scales prospectively (4,12,13). Our findings do not suggest that there was a bias to more severely affected women completing the survey.…”

Action by and sensitivity to neuroactive steroids in menstrual cycle related CNS disorders

“…3). As many as 75% of all women experience some sort of negative mood symptoms or physical symptoms premenstrually (Andersch et al 1986), but only 2-6% of all women actually fulfill the criteria for PMDD (Ramcharan et al 1992;Sveindottir and Bäckström 2000). Ovulation, as well as the subsequent formation of a corpus luteum, is required for the development of symptoms.…”

“…However, a fraction of women (3-6%) suffer from mental and physical symptoms severe enough to require medical treatment (Sveindottir and Bäckström 2000). It can be speculated that certain women, throughout life, are more prone to respond with symptoms of depression and anxiety from hormonal changes or hormonal treatments, the earliest manifestation perhaps being adverse mood effects on oral contraceptives (Cullberg 1972).…”

“…The majority of women experience cyclical changes in one or more symptoms |related to the cyclical variations in ovarian steroids during reproductive life, most often mild physical symptoms (Sveindottir and Bäckström 2000). However, a fraction of women (3-6%) suffer from mental and physical symptoms severe enough to require medical treatment (Sveindottir and Bäckström 2000).…”

Current management of premenstrual syndrome and premenstrual dysphoric disorder

“…Premenstrual symptomatology has been documented in users of oral contraceptives [5]. Clinical trials on the use of oral contraceptives for the treatment of PMS are few in numbers; the more recent findings are at best suggestive of some benefit, mostly for the physical symptoms (increased appetite, cravings, and acne) [76,77].…”