Archives of Women's Health, Obstetrics & Gynecology

In recent years, cancer has come to be understood not only as a biological disease but also as a condition profoundly shaped by social, cultural, and economic factors. Within this complex reality, women face unique challenges—both as patients and as professionals in the healthcare system. Female cancers—such as breast, cervical, ovarian, and endometrial cancer—not only represent a significant epidemiological burden, but also reflect persistent gender-based inequities that impact prevention, diagnosis, and treatment.

Premenstrual syndrome (PMS) is a prevalent condition among young women, characterized by a variety of physical, behavioural, and psychological symptoms occurring in the luteal phase of the menstrual cycle. In the 21st century, obesity has become a significant global health concern, associated with numerous chronic diseases
[1].However, when it comes to PMS, the relationship with obesity is less clear [2]. PMS is driven by hormonal fluctuations, and individuals with obesity are more likely to experience anovulatory cycle, which reduce the hormonal shifts necessary for PMS development. Therefore, normal BMI, rather than obesity, may be linked to
a higher prevalence of PMS. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between Body Mass Index (BMI) and the prevalence and severity of PMS among medical students.
This cross-sectional study was conducted in a tertiary care hospital in southern India from July 2022 to July 2023. A total of 400 medical students were approached, of which 396 responded. After excluding participants with risk factors for PMS, 160 students were included in the final sample. Data were collected using a prevalidated questionnaire based on the American College of Obstetrics and Gynaecology (ACOG) criteria for PMS diagnosis. The study population was stratified by BMI into underweight, normal weight, and overweight/obesity categories.

The results revealed that PMS prevalence was 40.4% in the study population, with the highest prevalence observed in individuals with normal BMI (48.75%). In terms of PMS severity, mild symptoms were more common in normal weight individuals (25.6%), while severe PMS was also more commonly found in this group (9.37%). A statistically significant association between BMI and PMS severity was identified (p = 0.0018) through chi square test. The most commonly reported behavioural symptoms were irritability (68.75%) and depression (38.75%), while the most frequent somatic symptom was headache (66.25%).

In conclusion, the study found that normal BMI is associated with a higher prevalence and severity of PMS compared to underweight and overweight individuals. This suggests that regular ovulatory cycles and hormonal fluctuations in normal weight individuals may contribute to the development of PMS. Further prospective studies are needed to confirm these findings and explore the underlying mechanisms linking BMI and PMS.