title: Understanding and attitudes of Brazilian men with regard to premenstrual syndrome.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the understanding and attitudes of Brazilian men regarding premenstrual syndrome (PMS).
  
  
  METHODS
  In a survey-based study between September 2007 and April 2008, information was collected from men aged 18-40 years who were attending public healthcare services or were university and faculty staff at 5 cities in different geographic regions of Brazil and the Federal District.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In total, 527 men were interviewed. Of these, 86.3% had heard of PMS, and 34.3% reported that it is a natural part of the menstrual cycle. The most commonly reported characteristics of PMS were emotional symptoms (55.2%), including nervousness or anxiety; irritability, anger, or aggressiveness; and a greater tendency to start arguments and fights. A significant relationship was found between men who had heard of PMS and being aged 20-35 years, having a university degree, being white, and belonging to a higher socioeconomic stratum (P<0.001). Furthermore, men with a university degree were more likely to know that PMS symptoms occur before menses (P<0.004).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Many of the men interviewed were knowledgeable about PMS symptoms; however, this awareness was more common among men of higher socioeconomic strata with more years of schooling.
authors.affiliation: Center for Research in Reproductive Health, Campinas, Brazil. mmakuch@cemicamp.org.br
authors.forename: María Y
authors.initials: MY
authors.lastname: Makuch
authors.forename: Maria J D
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Osis
authors.forename: Karla Simonia
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: de Pádua
authors.forename: Luis
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Bahamondes
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D001294:Attitude to Health; D001938:Brazil; D003625:Data Collection; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011293:Premenstrual Syndrome / Q000523:psychology*; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D055815:Young Adult