Health Related Quality of Life Among Women With Premenstrual Syndrome and Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder

OBJECTIVES: Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS) and Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder (PMDD) occurs during the luteal phase of the menses, and it can significantly affect women’s health related quality of life (HRQOL). The objectives of this study were to examine the prevalence of PMS and PMDD and its impact on HRQOL.

METHODS: A self-administered validated Premenstrual Symptoms Screening Tool (PSST) (19 items, on a 4-point Likert scale) and the Pain Impact Questionnaire (PIQ-6) (6 items on a 4-point Likert scale) was used to investigate the HRQOL and severity of menstrual pain impacting work and leisure activities among Bahamian women. Premenopausal women of 18 to 50 years of age attending six public health and one specialty clinic were included, whereas women who no longer had a menses or had a previous diagnosis of a psychiatric or psychological disorder were excluded. This study was approved by the institutional Review Board and informed consent were obtained from the participants. Data were analysed for descriptive statistics and associations using the Chi-squared test. A p-value <0.05 was considered statistically significant.

RESULTS: Among 234 women included, 22% had moderate to severe PMS and 3.4% had PMDD. Majority (67%) of them were 18 to 30 years of age, had college education (67.4%), were single (72.5%), and reported of using no contraception (65.4%). PMS and PMDD both had highest impact on home responsibilities (61.5% & 100%), social life (73.1% & 87.5%) and work efficiency (57.7% & 87.5%), respectively. Majority (58.1%) also reported level of menstrual pain negatively impacting their work, enjoyment of leisure activities and daily life. Significant associations were observed between age, education, regular menstruation, and age at menarche with PMS.

CONCLUSIONS: Recognizing PMS and PMDD in Bahamian women will help health professionals to effectively manage and improve their HRQOL.