Premenstrual Syndrome, Prevalence, Management and Impact in Quality of Life of Women Residing in Al Qunfudhah, Saudi Arabia

Context: Premenstrual syndrome (PMS) is a clinical condition that appears during the 5 days before menstruation in each of the previous three consecutive cycles and disappears within 4 days of the onset of menses. It consists of physical and emotional symptoms which are cyclic and unrelated to any organic disease. Aims: The purpose of this study is to determine the prevalence of PMS, assess the management to alleviate the symptoms of PMS and evaluate the impact on the quality of life (QoL) amongst women residing in Al-Qunfudhah Governorate, Saudi Arabia. Settings and Design: This was a web-based, descriptive and cross-sectional study conducted to determine the prevalence of PMS amongst women residing in Al Qunfudhah governorate, Saudi Arabia. Subjects and Methods: The study included 504 women of reproductive age. Data were collected through an online-based questionnaire administered between February 2024 and August 2024. Statistical Analysis Used: Data were analysed using the SPSS v21; descriptive and Chi-square tests identified PMS prevalence, associated factors, impact on QoL and management practices. Results: The study found a high prevalence of PMS, with 45.2% of the participants meeting the criteria for having PMS. The most reported moderate-to-severe PMS symptoms included mood swings (73.6%), fatigue (70.2%) and irritability (66.9%), as well as physical symptoms such as joint pain (53%), muscle pain (52.4%) and headache (45%). Conclusions: The study found that around half of women experienced PMS, with psychological and physical symptoms commonly reported, although most did not seek medical care and instead self-medicated. Future research should focus on creating customised interventions to meet women’s needs and comparing PMS experiences across different population groups.