Premenstrual Syndrome in the Nursing Women Working in a University Hospital

Park, Junsik; Kim, Tae Hee; Lee, Hae Hyeog; Lee, Wooseok; Chung, Soo Ho

Abstract

OBJECTIVES
To evaluate the status of premenstrual syndrome (PMS) and premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) of nursing women in a university hospital and their menstrual characters.
METHODS
A self developed questionnaire survey regarding PMS and PMDD was conducted in 40 healthy nursing women who worked on a university hospital. Cycle of menstruation, regularity, amount of menstruation, and the intensity of dysmenorrhea were assessed and the symptoms were classified according to their intensity, persistence.
RESULTS
All of the women had more than one of the premenstrual symptoms of criteria by American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology (ACOG). The approximate prevalence of PMDD by American Psychiatric Association (APA) criteria was 12.5%. The most predominant symptoms were bloating, irritability, breast tenderness, depression. PMDD was significantly associated with height (P=0.028) and severity of dysmenorrhea (P=0.022). There was no significant relation with age, weight, body mass index and the cycle of menstruation.
CONCLUSION
PMS occur frequently and have a significant impact on the activity of the nursing women. If we educate and inform the working women about PMS, it can help to increase efficiency in many area and quality of life of those women.