A population-based survey of Asian women's experience of premenstrual symptoms

Abstract

This paper aims to explore women's experiences of premenstrual symptoms in three Asian countries and the factors affecting the prevalence of these symptoms. Cross-sectional survey. A sample of 1202 women aged 15–49 years were recruited by random sampling in Hong Kong, Pakistan and Thailand. The interviewer used a questionnaire with a checklist of 23 premenstrual symptoms, sociodemographic and lifestyle variables. The most prevalent symptoms were joint, muscle and back pain, cramps, abdominal pain and breast tenderness. The severity of symptoms was directly proportional to duration (months affected) (R = 0.85). Significant effects on symptom duration, severity, index of age (linear and quadra..