Prevalence and correlates of perimenstrual symptoms: a study of Israeli teenage girls.

The prevalence of common premenstrual symptoms and menstrual period pain were studied in a cohort of 545 Israeli adolescent girls aged 16 to 21 years, and their correlation with biological, behavioral, and sociocultural traits were analyzed. A high proportion of the girls (80%) commonly experienced at least one premenstrual symptom. About 70% experienced menstrual pain in the past and 25% reported pain which severely interfered with daily activities during the last three cycles. Premenstrual symptoms and menstrual pain were positively associated. Oral contraceptive use appeared to reduce the prevalence of menstrual pain, and among smokers who had menstrual pain, heavier smokers experienced more pain. Girls of Asian or African ethnic origin reported consistently higher perimenstrual distress than those of Israeli or Western origin, suggesting that social expectations may affect the perception and reporting of these symptoms.