Frequency of premenstrual syndrome in working women vs housewives in Peshawar

ABSTRACT

To find out the frequency of premenstrual syndrome [PMS] in working women Vs housewives/women working in their own houses in Peshawar. This prospective study was carried out at Postgraduate Medical Institute, Peshawar in the year 1995-1996, on 200 women [100 working women and 100 house wives/women working in their own houses] meeting the criteria. Their daily prospective symptoms were recorded on a menstrual chart administered to them for three consecutive months. One housewife withdrew by the third month from the study because she got pregnant. Diagnostic and Statistical manual criteria [1994] was used for the diagnosis of PMS. In this study, 53% [53/100] of working women and 25.25% [25/99] of housewives had PMS. In working women the predominant symptoms were tension and irritability [45.28%] followed by fatigue [41.5%] and depression [39.62%] while in house wives fatigue was at the top i.e. 76%, followed by depression [52%] and anxiety [36%]. More severe symptoms occurred in 43.9% of working women and in 24% of house wives. About 69.8% [n=37/53] of working women and 16% [n=4/25] housewives/women working in their own houses were unmarried. Around 84.9% of working women and 84% of house wives had dysmenorrhea. Analgesics and antidepressants were the most commonly used drugs. The frequency and severity of PMS is more common in working women as compared to housewives, probably due to more stressful life