STUDY OF THE PREVALENCE OF PREMENSTRUAL A ND PERIMENSTRUAL SYMPTOMS IN FEMALE PERSONNEL OF A UNIVERSITY-HOSPITAL

Objective: This retrospective inquiry was designed to clarify the asso ciations between the premenstrual syndrome (PMS) and premenstrual symp toms and personal and demographic data. Methods: The entire female sta ff of our University Hospitals (1,535 women) were asked to fill in a q uestionnaire on 29 physical and psychical symptoms. 491 answers (32.7% ) of women with regular menstruations were evaluated. Results: PMS was diagnosed in 7.7% (p = 0,0006) and premenstrual symptoms in 32.4% (p = 0.021). The symptoms were significantly influenced by age (p = 0.004 9) and use of oral contraceptives (OC, p = 0.047), but not by the dura tion of use and parity. Conclusion: The woman's social and familial ba ckground has a considerable impact on the occurrence and severity of p remenstrual symptoms. The significant positive effect of some OCs on P MS may be of therapeutic use.