The effect of premenstrual symptoms on activities of daily life.
OBJECTIVE
To assess impact of premenstrual symptoms on activities of women's daily lives (ADL).


METHODS
Cross-sectional population-based survey.


METHODS
Market research company.


METHODS
A total of 4,085 women aged 14-50 years recruited by random telephone digit dialing in France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Spain, the United Kingdom, Brazil, and Mexico.


METHODS
None.


METHODS
A telephone interview checklist of 23 premenstrual symptoms, sociodemographic and lifestyle variables, and ADL effects (global question and seven areas). Stepwise regression measured the effect of premenstrual symptoms and sociodemographic factors on ADL.


RESULTS
Symptoms and symptom domains (physical and mental) had similar negative effects on ADL. Activities of daily life were predominantly affected by symptom severity. Income level, age, and country also significantly affected ADL. In all, 2,638 women (64.6%) were minimally affected in ADL, 981 (24%) were moderately affected, and 454 (11.1%) were severely affected.


CONCLUSIONS
Both physical and mental premenstrual symptoms have significant impact on quality of life, assessed as ADL. Up to 35% of women of reproductive age in Europe and Latin America were moderately or severely affected in ADL by cyclical premenstrual symptoms.
Dennerstein
Lorraine
L
Department of Psychiatry, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia. ldenn@unimelb.edu.au
Lehert
Philippe
P
Bäckström
Torbjörn Carl
TC
Heinemann
Klaas
K
D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D005843:Geography; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D040541:Marketing; D008597:Menstrual Cycle / Q000502:physiology* / Q000523:psychology; D008875:Middle Aged; D011293:Premenstrual Syndrome / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000523:psychology*; D011788:Quality of Life; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult