The Prevalence of Premenstrual Syndrome and its Relationship with Food Intake, Anxiety and Digestive Disorders in University Student Girls

Premenstrual syndrome (PMS) involves physical, psychological, and behavioral symptoms that occur one to two weeks before the onset of menstruation in women. The symptoms of this syndrome and their severity often vary between individuals and between successive cycles and reduce to the onset of bleeding [1]. In most women, there is no relatively predictable pattern for symptoms [2]. Epidemiological findings suggest that the frequency of PMS in women is more than 80 to 90% [3]. Almost 5% of women have symptoms that are so severe that disrupt their individual and social activities and are called premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) [4,5]. In a survey in Iran, women 18 to 45 years old were studied between 2009 and 2011 and the results showed that the prevalence of PMS was 52.9%, while 34.5% suffering from severe forms [6]. Feeling of fragmentation, craving for food, insomnia and / or swallowing, headache, sadness, pelvic pain, breast tenderness, joint pain, and bloating are important symptoms and irritability, anxiety, depression, mood swings, hostility, weak concentration, confusion, social disturbance, and interpersonal conflicts are the common psychological and emotional symptoms of PMS [7,8]. There is also a number of other PMS symptoms such as constipation, muscle cramps, drowsiness, loss of libido, swelling of the face, forgetfulness, fatigue, headache, herpes outbreaks, hot flashes, light and sound sensation, palpitations, restlessness, weak memory, sore throat, vomiting, and weight gain [9]. The exact cause of PMS remains unclear and various factors are thought to be involved, therefore it is suggested that PMS be considered as a multi-factor problem [10]. On the other hand, possible reasons may include hormonal changes, neurotransmitter changes, diet, stress and lifestyle [11]. Women with PMS suffer from disruption of their social and economic performance [12], in addition, their job performance is reduced, thereby, a remarkable decline in economic efficiency will occur [13].