Association of socio-demographic, dietary and lifestyle factors with Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS) among undergraduate medical students of a tertiary care institute in Ahmedabad, Gujarat

INTRODUCTION: The frequency, as well as the severity of the PMS (Pre-Menstrual Syndrome), varies from female to female based on various socio-demographic, dietary, and lifestyle factors. Nevertheless, the PMS is known to affect day-to-day functioning including interference with school/work productivity, relationships with friends, family, and colleagues. This is especially important for medical students where academic performance is much skillful and demanding. METHODOLOGY: The inclusion criteria for this cross-sectional survey were female medical students studying in one of the medical colleges of the city, having regular menstrual cycle (in the last three consecutive months) and willing to participate in the research. Students were assigned from each of the four professional years (First, Second, Third, and Final) through random sampling so that the desires sample size was achieved. The study used a pre-designed questionnaire, the “Premenstrual Symptoms Screening Tool (PSST)” (through Google form), that included 14 items assessing premenstrual symptoms of appetite, mood, sleep, anxiety and physical symptoms. It includes functional impairment items in five different domains as well. RESULTS: The common symptoms seen in the respondents were anger/irritability (Mild n = 76, 46.3%; Moderate to severe n = 68, 41.4%) followed by physical symptoms which included headaches, joint or muscle pain, breast tenderness, gain in weight and bloating. The commonest functional impairment was college/work efficiency or productivity (n = 79, 48.2%). Alcohol and tobacco consumption had a significant association with PMDD. The type of diet did not have significant statistical association with PMS or PMDD. CONCLUSION: The most common symptoms seen were anger/irritability as well as physical symptoms like headache, breast tenderness etc., Factors like sleep, diet, exercise, yoga, alcohol and smoking were assessed.