Simpson L O, Shand B I, Nyhof R B
Department of Pathology, University of Otago Medical School, Dunedin.
N Z Med J. 1988 May 11;101(845):225-8.
One hundred and thirty-four volunteers were asked to weigh themselves at the same time each day and to make a daily assessment of a small number of symptoms related to their menstrual cycles. Details were requested of the nature of any pain relieving drugs used and of the days on which they were taken. In addition they were asked to provide information about their age, smoking habits and regular medication. Information relating to 346 cycles was obtained in this way. Symptom scores based upon the frequency and severity of 6 common symptoms occurring between days 5 and 14 compared with the symptoms scores for the last 5 days of the cycle provided a basis for categorising cycles into 3 groups. Group A cycles had a virtual absence of symptoms. Group B cycles were characterised by symptoms which were clustered towards the end of the cycle while group C had symptoms throughout the cycle. Women with cyclical symptoms (group B) were not different in age, menstrual characteristics or smoking habits from women whose cycles fell into groups A and C but their premenstrual changes in bodyweight were greater. The use of pain relieving drugs was not related to symptoms grouping and was similar in all groups. It is concluded that the scores from 6 common symptoms relating to 2 or 3 successive cycles can identify women with cyclical symptoms which may be diagnostic of premenstrual syndrome and the method could be useful in selecting subjects for studies of the syndrome.
134名志愿者被要求每天在同一时间称重，并对与月经周期相关的少量症状进行每日评估。研究人员询问了她们所使用的任何止痛药物的性质以及服药时间。此外，还要求她们提供年龄、吸烟习惯和常规用药情况等信息。通过这种方式获得了与346个月经周期相关的信息。根据月经周期第5天至第14天出现的6种常见症状的频率和严重程度得出的症状评分，与月经周期最后5天的症状评分相比，为将月经周期分为3组提供了依据。A组月经周期几乎没有症状。B组月经周期的特点是症状集中在月经周期末期，而C组在整个月经周期都有症状。有周期性症状的女性（B组）在年龄、月经特征或吸烟习惯方面与月经周期属于A组和C组的女性没有差异，但她们经前体重变化更大。止痛药物的使用与症状分组无关，在所有组中情况相似。研究得出结论，连续2至3个月经周期的6种常见症状评分可以识别出有周期性症状的女性，这些症状可能是经前综合征的诊断依据，该方法可能有助于选择该综合征研究的受试者。
