Premenstrual syndrome: Prevalence in students of the University of Calabar, Nigeria

Abstract

The prevalence and frequency of symptoms of premenstrual syndrome (PMS) was assessed in female undergraduate students of the University of Calabar. A survey of a consecutive sample of 200 nulliparous subjects aged between 16 and 31 years revealed that 85.5% of them regularly experienced symptoms suggestive of PMS. The commonest symptoms were lower abdominal pain, pimples/puffy face, tender/painfully engorged breast and depression/tension representing 86%, 67% 63%, and 55% respectively. The least frequent symptoms were back ache and common cold which was seen in 14% and 11% of the subjects respectively. 42% of the subjects complained of severe abdominal pain. This group had depression/tension as the most frequently occurring symptom (87%), while pimples/puffy face was most frequently seen in those with mild, moderate and no abdominal
discomfort.. There was an association between severity of abdominal discomfort and symptoms experienced by subjects (p<0.01). Similarly, severity of abdominal discomfort was associated with mean body weight of subjects (P<0.02) but not with body temperature.