Impact of premenstrual syndrome on daily activities and quality of life: a survey analysis

Abstract

Background: PMS affects a surprisingly large share of women in their reproductive years; prevalence estimates range from 30–40%, climbing to 80% when mild and moderate cases are counted. This study looked at how common PMS symptoms are in women aged 18–40, and whether lifestyle factors like diet, exercise, and stress have any bearing on their frequency or severity.

Methods: An online survey via Google Forms captured data on demographics, menstrual history, PMS awareness, emotional and physical symptoms, diet, exercise, and stress levels. Of 684 responses received, 650 met inclusion criteria women aged 18-40 with regular cycles. Excluded were participants who were pregnant, lactating, chronically ill, had psychiatric diagnoses, recently used hormonal medications, or submitted incomplete/duplicate forms.

Results: Most participants (71.23%) had heard of PMS. Of those surveyed, 82% reported emotional symptoms like mood swings and irritability being the most common before their periods. Fatigue was nearly as widespread at 76%, while food cravings affected 59.54%. Medium menstrual flow was typical (75.08%), with 36% reporting blood clots. On the lifestyle side, 72.31% didn't exercise regularly, and just over half (53.69%) reported dealing with stress.

Conclusions: PMS awareness is reasonably high, but emotional and physical symptoms remain common and undertreated. The low exercise rates and elevated stress levels among participants point to lifestyle factors as potential targets both for further research and practical management strategies.