A new study from the Institute of Environmental Medicine (IMM) at Karolinska Institutet shows that women with premenstrual disorders have significantly lower quality of life compared to women without such conditions. The more severe form, premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD), has the most negative impact on well-being.
Premenstrual disorders (PMDs), including premenstrual syndrome (PMS) and PMDD, are common among women of reproductive age and can cause substantial physical and psychological strain.
The current study includes data from over 17,000 women aged 15-60 years in the national LifeGene cohort, and is the largest population-based study to date examining the link between PMDs and health-related quality of life. The results show that women with PMDs report significantly lower quality of life than those without.
Researchers used a combination of self-reported symptoms and diagnoses from Swedish healthcare registers, and assessed quality of life using the EQ-5D-3L scale - an internationally recognized tool measuring five dimensions of health: mobility, self-care, usual activities, pain/discomfort, and anxiety/depression.
"Our results show that premenstrual disorders have a substantial impact on women's quality of life, especially in terms of anxiety and depression," says IMM researcher Qiwei Wang . "What stands out is how clear the association is - even after adjusting for other illnesses and life factors. Women with PMDD report particularly high levels of anxiety, low mood, and pain, which affects their everyday lives."
The researchers emphasize the need for both medical and social support to improve the quality of life for affected women.
"Premenstrual disorders are not just a hormonal issue - they are a public health concern," says Donghao Lu , Associate Professor at IMM. "We hope our findings will help raise awareness of the problem and lead to better care and support for these women."
Publikation
Premenstrual Disorders and Quality of Life in Sweden.
Wang Q, Keijser R, Chen Y, Yu H, Hysaj E, Hägg S, Valdimarsdóttir UA, Bertone-Johnson E, Aleknaviciute J, Lu D
JAMA Netw Open 2025 Sep;8(9):e2533823
