THE INCIDENCE OF PRE-MENSTRUAL TENSION IN A GYNECOLOGIC CLINIC

  • 1 January 1982
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 27  (12) , 721-724
Abstract
A menstrual symptom questionnaire was used to assess the incidence of premenstrual tension (PMT) in 1395 regularly menstruating women not on hormonal contraceptives or any other hormonal therapy during routine visits to a gynecologic clinic. Nineteen symptoms were divided into 4 PMT subgroups: PMT-A (anxiety, irritability, mood swings, nervous tension), PMT-H (weight gain, swelling of extremities, breast tenderness, abdominal bloating), PMT-C (headache, craving for sweets, increased appetite, heart pounding, fatigue and dizziness or fainting) and PMT-D (depression, forgetfulness, crying, confusion, insomnia). The ages of the patients ranged from 13-54 yr, with a mean .+-. SD of 32 .+-. 8.5 yr. Using strict criteria for PMT, 702 patients scored positive for at least 1 subgroup of PMT, giving an incidence of 50%. When the patients were divided into 5-yr age groups, a peak incidence of 60% was observed in the 3rd decade of life. The most common PMT subgroups were PMT-A and PMT-H, occurring either alone or in combination. The least common subgroup was PMT-D, occurring in only 12 patients and by itself. The mean cycle length in pure PMT-D patients was significantly shorter (P < 0.05) than in patients without PMT.

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