INCIDENCE OF PREMENSTRUAL-SYNDROME AND REMEDY USAGE - A NATIONAL PROBABILITY SAMPLE STUDY

Context Premenstrual syndrome is believed to affect 30% to 80% of wome n. Studies in various cultures have used a variety of methodologies to determine prevalence, symptom profile, and effectiveness of available treatments. This study was designed to provide information an inciden ce of PMS and therapies used based on a national probability sample of US women. Method In 1996 a national probability sample (N = 1052) oJ women aged 21 to 64 years was surveyed by telephone using random digit dial methods. The survey included demographic information, questions concerning respondent knowledge of premenstrual syndrome, incidence ra tes of common premenstrual syndrome symptoms, and any remedies that we re used to control the symptoms. Results Forty-one percent of the wome n responded ''yes'' to the question, ''Do you suffer from premenstrual syndrome?'' An additional 17% indicated that they experienced symptom s prior to their menstrual cycle that are commonly associated with pre menstrual syndrome (eg, pain, bloating, feeling more emotional, weight gain, food cravings), though without associating these symptoms with premenstrual syndrome explicitly. The most frequently noted severe sym ptom was that of ''[feeling] more emotional.'' Of those reporting prem enstrual syndrome symptoms, approximately 42% took either prescription or over-the-counter medications to relieve them. Eighty percent of th e women taking any type of medication relied on over-the-counter medic ations. Prescription drug use for premenstrual syndrome symptoms focus ed on medications to control pain; hormone supplements were the second most frequently prescribed drugs. Fewer than 3% of the respondents us ed prescription medications. Respondents were asked to indicate whethe r they had used a complementary medical therapy to control symptoms. E xercise was used most frequently (18%), and acupuncture was the least frequently used. Although only a small percentage of women used comple mentary therapies, for most of these therapies a near-perfect concorda nce was found between usage and belief in efficacy. Conclusions Women were aware of symptoms related to premenstrual syndrome more frequentl y than they recognized a formalized medical syndrome. Less than half o f the women reporting symptoms had taken either over-the-counter or pr escription drugs. Those who tried complementary therapies generally fo und them to be effective.