Academic Strain under Hormonal Stress: Premenstrual Syndrome and Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder among Female Medical Students - Prevalence and Academic Impact

ABSTRACT OBJECTIVES The study aims to determine the prevalence of premenstrual syndrome (PMS) and premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) among female medical students and evaluate the impact these conditions have on the students’ academic performance. METHODOLOGY This cross-sectional study was conducted over two months at Suleman Roshan Medical College, using a census to include all female medical students with regular cycles and no major health conditions. Data were collected via a structured questionnaire based on ICD-10 and DSM-5 criteria to diagnose PMS and PMDD, and to assess academic impact. Participation was voluntary, anonymous, and required informed consent. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 23, employing both descriptive and inferential statistics. A p-value of less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant. RESULTSStudy found high prevalence of premenstrual disorders among the 182 participants, with 90.1% meeting the criteria for PMS and 26.4% for PMDD. The most common moderate-to-severe symptoms were fatigue 61.0%, irritability 52.2%, and depressed mood 50.5%. Symptoms were strongly associated with academic impairment, with over 70% of students reporting negative effects on exam performance and concentration. A direct dose-response relationship was observed, with increased symptom severity associated with greater academic performance difficulties. CONCLUSION This study concludes that premenstrual syndrome and premenstrual dysphoric disorder are highly prevalent among female medical students and are significantly associated with substantial academic impairment.