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. 2025 Oct;132(11):1596-1605.
doi: 10.1111/1471-0528.18261. Epub 2025 Jul 7.

Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder Prevalence and Symptoms Across Age Groups: A Cross-Sectional Study

Adriana Orcesi Pedro  1 , Roberto Carmignani Verdade  1 , Maura Gonzaga Lapa  2 , Juliana Dinéia Perez Brandão  2   3 , Vivienne Carduz Castilho  2
Affiliations

Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder Prevalence and Symptoms Across Age Groups: A Cross-Sectional Study

Adriana Orcesi Pedro et al. BJOG. 2025 Oct.

Abstract

Objective: To estimate the prevalence and symptom severity of premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) in Brazilian women according to age groups, and to conduct an association analysis between psychoemotional and somatic symptoms.

Design: Cross-sectional study.

Setting: 303 private clinics across Brazil.

Population: 45 160 women aged 20-49 years.

Methods: Self-report questionnaire regarding the prevalence and intensity of premenstrual symptoms. Statistical analysis performed using Pearson's chi-square test and Poisson regression and multiple logistic regression.

Main outcome measures: Prevalence and intensity of somatic and psychoemotional premenstrual symptoms.

Results: Prevalence of PMDD was 3.57% (95% CI: 3.40-3.75). Psychoemotional symptoms were more prevalent than somatic symptoms, with anxiety/tension (99.9%) and irritability/anger (99.8%) being the most frequently reported symptoms. Weight gain (92.5%) and edema (92.1%) were the most prevalent somatic symptoms. Anxiety/tension and headache occurred independently of other symptoms. Binge eating was associated with weight gain (OR = 2.77, 95% CI [2.11, 3.62]), acne (OR = 2.37, 95% CI [1.79, 3.10]), immunoallergic exacerbations (OR = 1.81, 95% CI [1.26, 2;60]) and edema (OR-0.74, 95% CI [0.55, 0.97]). Affective lability was associated with immunoallergic exacerbations (OR = 1.49, 95% CI [1.16, 1.91]) and mastalgia (OR = 1.29, 95% CI [1.02, 1.63]). Depression was associated with acne (OR = 0.72, 95% CI [0.57, 0.89]) and weight gain (OR = 0.77, 95% CI [0.61, 0.96]).

Conclusions: The prevalence of PMDD was consistent with other population studies. Psychoemotional symptoms were more prevalent. Association analysis provided new insights into premenstrual symptomatology.

Keywords: Brazilian population; premenstrual dysphoric disorder; psychoemotional symptoms; somatic symptoms.

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Conflict of interest statement

Each author has confirmed compliance with the journal's requirements for authorship.

Figures

FIGURE 1
FIGURE 1
Flowchart of participant selection.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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