Evaluating the effect of educational intervention based on the health belief model on the lifestyle related to premenstrual syndrome and reduction of its symptoms among the first-grade high school girls.

INTRODUCTION: A healthy lifestyle can reduce the rate and symptoms of premenstrual syndrome. Thus, the present study evaluates the effect of educational intervention based on the Health Belief Model on the lifestyle related to premenstrual syndrome and reduction of its symptoms among the first-grade high school girls. METHODS: This quasi-experimental study was conducted on 80 first-grade high school girls. They were divided into two intervention and control groups (40 people in each group). The data collection tools included the participants' demographic information questionnaire, premenstrual symptoms screening tool, and a researcher-made questionnaire based on the constructs of the health belief model about PMS and the behaviors reducing its symptoms. Data were collected in two phases (before and three months after the educational intervention) via WhatsApp. Educational sessions were held in the form of four 45-min sessions for intervention group subjects regarding PMS and the behaviors that reduce its symptoms during one month via WhatsApp. RESULTS: According to the results of this study, the mean scores of knowledge about PMS and health belief model constructs (including perceived susceptibility), perceived severity, perceived benefits, perceived self-efficacy, cues to action, lifestyle/behaviors that reduce PMS symptoms) and the percentage of people who did not have PMS symptoms or had a mild type of PMS increased significantly after implementing the educational intervention in the intervention group compared to before the intervention and compared to the control group. Also, the perceived barriers construct score PMS decreased significantly. CONCLUSIONS: The health belief model education focused on a healthy lifestyle was effective in reducing PMS symptoms. It is recommended to use the educational intervention designed in this study, along with other health care in schools and during puberty as an easy, low-cost, and effective intervention.

Studying the factors associated with Premenstrual syndrome prevention among pre-university students in Tehran.

Introduction: Premenstrual syndrome is one of the common menstrual disorders in adolescents. Considering the destructive effects of this syndrome on adolescents' activity and performance and the importance of epidemiological studies in designing preventive interventions. Aim: This study aimed to determine some of the factors associated with the prevention of premenstrual syndrome among adolescents. Settings and Design: In a cross-sectional study, 255 female high school students in Tehran were selected using multistage random sampling method. Methods and Material: The data were collected using a demographic and background questionnaire and a valid and reliable questionnaire to assess preventive behaviors of premenstrual syndrome. Statistical analysis used: The collected data were analyzed using SPSS software version 16 and descriptive statistics and logistic regression. Results: The mean (SD) score of adoption of preventive behaviors of premenstrual syndrome was 19.25 (0.63) out of 50, and it was low. Also, weekly physical activity, mother education level, and family income were the factors affecting the adoption of preventive behaviors of premenstrual syndrome (P < 0.05). Conclusion: Due to the low adoption of preventive behaviors among students with lower income families, students with less physical activity and students with mothers with lower levels of education, it is suggested that more attention be paid to the above students in designing educational programs to promote the prevention of premenstrual syndrome.

Effects of a social-media-based support on premenstrual syndrome and physical activity among female university students in South Korea.

Introduction: This study examined the effects of social-media-based support on premenstrual syndrome (PMS) and physical activity among female South Korean university students.Methods: This quasi-experimental study with an equivalent-control-group pretest-posttest design randomly assigned 64 female students with PMS to the experimental or control group. The experimental group received social-media-based support through a smartphone application, text messaging, and e-mail for one menstrual cycle between September and December, 2016. Descriptive and inferential statistics included a Chi-square test and independent and paired t-tests.Results: Significant differences emerged between the experimental and control groups in total PMS scores (p = .003), 14 premenstrual symptoms, and physical activity (p = .010).Conclusions: Female university students with PMS experienced decreased premenstrual symptoms and increased physical activity with social-media-based support, which could be an efficacious, accessible, and widely available nursing intervention to manage PMS and physical activity.

Premenstrual Syndrome Is Associated with Dietary and Lifestyle Behaviors among University Students: A Cross-Sectional Study from Sharjah, UAE.

Premenstrual syndrome (PMS) is a cyclical late luteal phase disorder of the menstrual cycle whereby the daily functioning of women is affected by emotional and physical symptoms substantially interfering with their quality of life. Little is known about PMS in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). This study aimed to determine the prevalence and severity of PMS among university students in Sharjah, UAE, and clarify its associations with dietary habits, lifestyle behaviors, and anthropometric factors. A cross-sectional study was conducted on female college students at the University of Sharjah, UAE. Data were collected using self-administered questionnaires and anthropometric assessments. Descriptive statistics and multiple logistic regression analyses were performed. Participants were 300 adult university students aged 18-24 years (mean age 20.07 ± 1.53 years). In total, 95% of participants reported at least one PMS symptom during their menstrual period. The prevalence of PMS was 35.3%, with mild symptoms being the most commonly reported. Multiple regression analysis showed that smoking was associated with increased risk of reporting psychological (OR 2.5, 95% CI 1.1-5.8; p < 0.05) and behavioral symptoms (OR 2.2, 95% CI 1.0-4.9; p < 0.05), while high calorie/fat/sugar/salt foods intake was associated with increased risk of reporting physical symptoms (OR 3.2, 95% CI 1.4-7.3; p < 0.05). However, fruit consumption (OR 0.34, 95% CI 0.125-0.92; p < 0.05) was associated with a decreased risk of reporting behavioral symptoms. A high prevalence of PMS was reported among university students, with smoking and high calorie/fat/sugar/salt food consumption identified as strong risk factors for PMS.

Influencia de la Actividad Física en la Sintomatología del Síndrome Premenstrual en universitarias / Influence of Physical Activity on Symptoms of the Syndrome Premenstrual in college girls

RESUMEN Objetivo: Determinar la influencia de la actividad física en la sintomatología del síndrome premenstrual en un grupo de mujeres de la Facultad de Medicina de la Universidad de Concepción. Métodos: Estudio observacional, descriptivo, transversal, realizado en 340 mujeres escogidas al azar de edades entre 18 a 27 años, estudiantes de la Facultad de Medicina de la Universidad de Concepción. Se utilizaron instrumentos validados para población chilena, como los criterios para el diagnóstico del trastorno disfórico premenstrual DSM-IV-TR, la Escala Visual Análoga (EVA) para la medición del dolor y el Cuestionario Internacional de Actividad Física (IPAQ) para la intensidad de esta. Los datos se obtuvieron por medio de encuestas autoadministradas y los resultados se analizaron mediante pruebas estadísticas. Resultados: Un 55,9% (n=190) presenta Síndrome premenstrual según los criterios utilizados. Los principales síntomas manifestados fueron: fatiga y falta de energía en un 64,7% (n=220), hipersensibilidad mamaria, cefalea e hinchazón en un 62,9% (n=214) y ansiedad, tensión, agobio y colapso en un 60,9% (n=207). Del total de encuestadas, el mayor porcentaje (42,6%) (n=145) realiza actividad física moderada. Al cruzar las variables de actividad física y la sintomatología del síndrome premenstrual se estableció que no existía relación entre ellas (valor p=0,605). Conclusiones: la actividad física no tiene influencia sobre la disminución de la sintomatología del síndrome premenstrual en la población estudiada.

ABSTRACT Objectives: Determine the influence of physical activity on the symptoms of premenstrual syndrome in females students of the Faculty of Medicine, Universidad de Concepción, Concepción Campus in 2014 Methods: A cross sectional study was applied to 340 randomly selected women aged between 18-27 years old belonging to the Faculty of Medicine of the Universidad de Concepción. Data were obtained through self-administered surveys and the results were analyzed by the respective statistical techniques. Results: Of the sample (n = 340), 55.9% (n = 190) had premenstrual syndrome according to the canon used. The main symptoms manifested were fatigue and lack of energy in 64.7% (n = 220), breast tenderness, headache and swelling in 62.9% (n = 214) and anxiety, stress, overwhelm and collapse into a 60.9% (n = 207). Of the total of the participants, the highest percentage (42.6%) (n = 145) performs moderate physical activity. When the variables of physical activity and premenstrual syndrome were crossed, was established that it did not exist relationship between them (p value = 0.605). Conclusions: With the obtaining and analyzing of the results, it seems that physical activity does not have major influence on the symptoms of premenstrual syndrome in the population studied.

Carbohydrate and fiber intake and the risk of premenstrual syndrome.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Women with premenstrual syndrome (PMS) are encouraged to reduce sugar and increase fiber intake to reduce symptoms. However, research supporting these recommendations is limited, and their role in PMS development is unclear. This study examines the relation between carbohydrate and fiber intake and the risk of PMS nested within the prospective Nurses' Health Study II cohort. SUBJECTS/METHODS: Carbohydrate and fiber intake were assessed at baseline and three additional times during follow up by food frequency questionnaire. Incident cases of PMS were identified by self-reported PMS diagnosis during 14 years of follow up and validated by supplemental questionnaire (n = 1234). Women were classified as controls if they did not report PMS diagnosis during follow up and confirmed minimal or no premenstrual symptoms (n = 2426). We estimated relative risks (RR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) using multivariable logistic regression. RESULTS: Total carbohydrate intake 2-4 years before reference year was not associated with PMS development (RR quintile 5 versus 1 = 0.99; 95% CI = 0.74-1.33). Intakes of specific carbohydrates or fibers were not associated with PMS development, except maltose. Adjusting for body mass index, smoking, and other factors, women with the highest maltose intake (median = 3.0 g/day) had a RR of 1.45 (95% CI = 1.11-1.88) compared to those with the lowest intake (median = 1.2 g/day). CONCLUSIONS: Overall, carbohydrate and fiber consumption was not associated with risk of PMS. As this is the first study to suggest that maltose may be associated with PMS development, further replication is needed.

Intake of dietary fat and fat subtypes and risk of premenstrual syndrome in the Nurses' Health Study II.

Approximately 8-20 % of reproductive-aged women experience premenstrual syndrome (PMS), substantially impacting quality of life. Women with PMS are encouraged to reduce fat intake to alleviate symptoms; however, its role in PMS development is unclear. We evaluated the association between dietary fat intake and PMS development among a subset of the prospective Nurses' Health Study II cohort. We compared 1257 women reporting clinician-diagnosed PMS, confirmed by premenstrual symptom questionnaire and 2463 matched controls with no or minimal premenstrual symptoms. Intakes of total fat, subtypes and fatty acids were assessed via FFQ. After adjustment for age, BMI, smoking, Ca and other factors, intakes of total fat, MUFA, PUFA and trans-fat measured 2-4 years before were not associated with PMS. High SFA intake was associated with lower PMS risk (relative risk (RR) quintile 5 (median=28·1 g/d) v. quintile 1 (median=15·1 g/d)=0·75; 95 % CI 0·58, 0·98; P trend=0·07). This association was largely attributable to stearic acid intake, with women in the highest quintile (median=7·4 g/d) having a RR of 0·75 v. those with the lowest intake (median=3·7 g/d) (95 % CI 0·57, 0·97; P trend=0·03). Individual PUFA and MUFA, including n-3 fatty acids, were not associated with risk. Overall, fat intake was not associated with higher PMS risk. High intake of stearic acid may be associated with a lower risk of developing PMS. Additional prospective research is needed to confirm this finding.

Effect of curcumin on serum brain-derived neurotrophic factor levels in women with premenstrual syndrome: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.

Premenstrual syndrome (PMS) is a variety of physical, mental, and behavioral symptoms that start during the late luteal phase of the menstrual cycle, and the symptoms disappear after the onset of menses. Serum brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) levels during luteal phase in women associated with PMS have more alterations than women not suffering from PMS. In this regard, altered luteal BDNF levels in women with PMS might play a role in a set of psychological and somatic symptoms of the PMS. Studies of last decade revealed neuroprotective effects of curcumin and its ability to increase BDNF levels. In the present study, we evaluated the effect of curcumin on serum BDNF level and PMS symptoms severity in women with PMS. Present study is a Randomized, Double-Blinded, Placebo-Controlled Clinical Trial. Curcumin treatment was given for three successive menstrual cycles and each cycle ran 10 days. After having identified persons with PMS, participants were randomly allocated into placebo (n=35) and curcumin (n=35) groups. Each sample in placebo and curcumin groups received two capsules daily for seven days before menstruation and for three days after menstruation for three successive menstrual cycles. Participants noted the severity of the symptoms mentioned in the daily record questionnaire. Self-report was used to determine menstrual cycle phase of participants. At the fourth day of each menstrual cycle venous blood samples were collected for BDNF measurement by ELISA method. Before intervention, BDNF levels and mean scores of PMS symptoms (mood, behavioral and physical symptoms) between two groups showed no significant differences. But in curcumin group first, second and third cycles after interventions BDNF levels were significantly higher and mean scores of PMS symptoms were significantly less than placebo group. Based on our results part of these beneficial effects of curcumin may be mediated through enhancing serum BDNF levels in women with PMS.

Asptects of mental health care in the gynecological setting.

Psychological disorders are commonly associated with gynecological conditions, but are frequently undetected and untreated, and may influence the presentation and treatment outcomes of the physical condition. A literature search was conducted in order to provide a narrative review of psychological aspects of menopause, premenstrual syndrome, premenstrual dysphoric disorder, chronic pelvic pain, incontinence and polycystic ovarian syndrome. All the conditions that have been addressed in this review can be associated with an increased risk of psychological symptoms and disorders. Anxiety and depression are common and are associated with significant morbidity. Gynecological conditions, by their nature, are likely to be accompanied by impairments in social, occupational and personal functioning. Greater emphasis should be placed on the mental health aspects of gynecological conditions.

The effect of uterine artery embolization on premenstrual symptoms in patients with symptomatic fibroids or adenomyosis.

PURPOSE: To evaluate whether uterine artery embolization (UAE) can reduce the premenstrual symptoms in women undergoing UAE for fibroid tumors or adenomyosis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Among 141 women who underwent UAE for symptomatic fibroid tumors or adenomyosis at a single institution between March 2011 and February 2013, 54 premenstrual symptoms in 39 patients were prospectively analyzed. Premenstrual symptoms were rated by the patient on a scale of 0 to 10, with 0 representing no symptom and 10 representing the baseline severity. The change in premenstrual symptom score was calculated by subtracting the baseline score from the post-UAE score. At 3-6 months after UAE, each woman also completed a symptom severity questionnaire to assess the severity of menstrual bleeding to compare the changes in premenstrual symptoms scores between women with and without menorrhagia. RESULTS: Back pain, headache, and gastrointestinal symptoms (eg, constipation, indigestion, lower abdominal pain) were significantly improved after UAE (P < .05). Muscle pain, fatigue, nervousness, breast tenderness, and systemic edema were also improved, but not significantly so. The mean premenstrual symptom score change in patients with menorrhagia was significantly greater than in those without menorrhagia (-6.4 vs -3.7; P = .044).There was no correlation between the degree of menorrhagia score change and the degree of premenstrual symptom score change (P = .186). CONCLUSIONS: UAE could be a method to alleviate some premenstrual symptoms in patients with uterine fibroid tumors or adenomyosis.

SSRIs and the female brain--potential for utilizing steroid-stimulating properties to treat menstrual cycle-linked dysphorias.

One unexpected property of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors is their ability, at doses well below those that effect 5-HT systems, to raise brain concentrations of neuroactive steroids such as the progesterone metabolite allopregnanolone. In women, rapid withdrawal from allopregnanolone when progesterone secretion drops sharply in the late luteal phase precipitates menstrual cycle-linked disorders such as premenstrual syndrome and catamenial epilepsy. Short-term, low-dose fluoxetine during the late luteal phase has the potential to prevent the development of such disorders, by raising brain allopregnanolone concentration. In female rats, withdrawal from allopregnanolone, as ovarian progesterone secretion falls rapidly in the late diestrus phase (similar to late luteal phase in women), induces upregulation of extrasynaptic GABAA receptors on GABAergic neurons in brain regions involved in mediating anxiety-like behaviors. The functional consequence of this receptor plasticity is disinhibition of principal neurons, hyperexcitable neuronal circuitry and increased behavioral responsiveness to anxiogenic stress. These withdrawal responses were prevented by short-term treatment with fluoxetine during the late diestrus phase, which raised brain allopregnanolone concentration, so blunting the rapid physiological fall. The steroid-stimulating properties of fluoxetine offer untapped opportunities for developing new treatments for menstrual cycle-linked disorders in women, which are precipitated by abrupt falls in brain concentration of allopregnanolone.

Coping strategy in adolescents with premenstrual syndrome: application of the construal level theory and the precaution adoption process model.

This study aimed to apply the construal level theory (CLT) to increase the relaxation adoption as a coping behavior in adolescents with premenstrual syndrome (PMS). The theory offers a framework that assumes decision-making about adoption of any given behavior depends on perceived temporal distance from the desired or recommended behavior and thus individual might perceive any information or intervention, at two levels (low or high). In doing so, a trial was conducted on 1578 high school students suffering from PMS. The precaution adoption process model was applied to categorize students in six stages, based on their intention to adopt a behavior. The focus of this study was on students who were in stage 3 of the model (undecided to adopt a behavior that was relaxation). Overall, 411 students were identified and randomly assigned to the three study groups: group 1 (n = 98) who received a CLT-driven intervention containing detailed information about relaxation (low-level construal, LLC); group 2 (n = 150) who received a CTL-driven intervention containing general information about relaxation (high-level construal, HLC); and group 3 (n = 163) who received nothing (control group). The progression from stage 3 toward stage 6 (action) was considered as the desired outcome and it was hypothesized that LLC intervention would be more effective than HLC intervention. Compared to participants in the control group, participants in the high and low construal groups were significantly more likely to advance to the action stage (P < 0.001). In addition, students in the low construal group had made an apparent higher stage progression as compared to the high construal group, although this difference was not statistically significant (P = 0.33). The findings suggest that, for people who are undecided to adopt a new health action, LLC intervention might be more effective.

Mood and physical symptoms improve in women with severe cyclical changes by taking an oral contraceptive containing 250-mcg norgestimate and 35-mcg ethinyl estradiol.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to investigate how women without and with different severity of premenstrual symptoms react to treatment with a combined oral contraceptive containing 250-mcg norgestimate/35-mcg ethinyl estradiol (EE). Focus was placed on mood and physical symptoms. STUDY DESIGN: This open, prospective study evaluated 24 women using norgestimate/EE for three cycles in a 21/7 regimen. Symptoms and bleeding pattern were captured by daily ratings on the Cyclicity Diagnoser scale. RESULTS: Women with severe premenstrual mood symptoms improved in summarized negative mood (p<.001) and summarized positive mood (p<.05), as well as in swelling (p<.05) and effect on daily life (p<.05). Women with no or mild or moderate symptoms did not show any significant improvement or deterioration in any symptom after 3 months of treatment. CONCLUSIONS: Norgestimate 250 mcg/EE 35 mcg significantly improved premenstrual summarized negative mood symptoms during 3 treatment months compared to pretreatment in women with severe premenstrual symptoms, together with improvement in positive symptoms, swelling and effect on daily life.

The state of hormonal contraception today: established and emerging noncontraceptive health benefits.

In the 50 years since the advent of combined oral contraceptives the amount of estrogen in oral contraceptives dropped from over 100 mcg to less than 30 mcg. Many noncontraceptive health benefits have emerged that decrease mortality and improve quality of life. Some of the immediate benefits include improvement of menorrhagia and dysmenorrhea, reduction in premenstrual dysphoric disorder symptoms, and decreased acne. As an effective birth control method oral contraceptives also decrease pregnancy-related deaths by preventing pregnancy. After the reproductive years, previous use of oral contraceptives continues to be beneficial, reducing the risk of death from ovarian and endometrial cancer. All these benefits have held up over time whereas cardiovascular risks have lessened because of the decrease in oral contraceptive pill dosage. Decreased ovarian cyst formation is an example of benefit with higher-dose oral contraceptive formulations that no longer holds true with low-dose pills.

Dietary B vitamin intake and incident premenstrual syndrome.

BACKGROUND: Thiamine, riboflavin, niacin, vitamin B-6, folate, and vitamin B-12 are required to synthesize neurotransmitters that are potentially involved in the pathophysiology of premenstrual syndrome (PMS). OBJECTIVE: The objective was to evaluate whether B vitamin intake from food sources and supplements is associated with the initial development of PMS. DESIGN: We conducted a case-control study nested within the Nurses' Health Study II cohort. Participants were free of PMS at baseline (1991). After 10 y of follow up, 1057 women were confirmed as cases and 1968 were confirmed as controls. Dietary information was collected in 1991, 1995, and 1999 by using food-frequency questionnaires. RESULTS: Intakes of thiamine and riboflavin from food sources were each inversely associated with incident PMS. For example, women in the highest quintile of riboflavin intake 2-4 y before the diagnosis year had a 35% lower risk of developing PMS than did those in the lowest quintile (relative risk: 0.65; 95% CI: 0.45, 0.92; P for trend = 0.02). No significant associations between incident PMS and dietary intakes of niacin, vitamin B-6, folate, and vitamin B-12 were observed. Intake of B vitamins from supplements was not associated with a lower risk of PMS. CONCLUSIONS: We observed a significantly lower risk of PMS in women with high intakes of thiamine and riboflavin from food sources only. Further research is needed to evaluate the effects of B vitamins in the development of premenstrual syndrome.

Menstrual suppression for combat operations: advantages of oral contraceptive pills.

BACKGROUND: increasing numbers of women are deployed to austere settings in which menstruation may impose logistical challenges. Minimal data exists about the use of oral contraceptive pills (OCPs) for menstrual suppression in this population. Post-deployment survey was undertaken to establish prevalence of continuous OCP use, perceived barriers, and associations with menstrual burden in a military population within the austere environment. METHODS: voluntary and anonymous 44-item questionnaire. RESULTS: of 500 women, 78% (n = 390) had personal experience using OCPs and 66% (n = 330) desired menstrual suppression. However, only 40% (n = 192) reported any OCP use and only 21% (n = 99) reported continuous use during deployment. Sixty-seven percent of women reported some difficulty in daily pill compliance and nearly half (45%) missed ≥ 1 pill per week in the austere setting. Continuous users were nearly twice as compliant as conventional users (p = .019) and compliant OCP users reported significantly less menstrual burden than noncompliant users (p = .017). Almost all women (85%) desired mandatory education about menstrual suppression through OCPs. CONCLUSION: despite OCP experience and desire for amenorrhea, prevalence of extended cycle OCP use in this population is low. Extended OCPs users in the austere setting report improved compliance and reduced menstrual burden compared with conventional users. Education about OCPs is highly desirable for most military women and may benefit those in austere settings.

Drospirenone/ethinylestradiol: a review on efficacy and noncontraceptive benefits.

Considerable advances have been made in the field of combined oral contraceptives since their introduction 50 years ago. This ongoing evolution has been focused on reducing the estrogen dose and synthesizing new progestogens. A recently launched combination of ethinylestradiol 20 µg and drospirenone 3 mg demonstrates the advantages of a lower estrogen dose with the antimineralocorticoid activity of drospirenone that is responsible for the drug's significant antiandrogenic and antimineralocorticoid effects, reflected clinically in lower rates of adverse events including less fluid retention. In addition to the drug's contraceptive efficacy, its effects on the skin and other classic noncontraceptive benefits, the ethinylestradiol 20 µg and drospirenone 3 mg combination has demonstrated highly satisfactory results in women with premenstrual dysphoric syndrome.

Management of menstrual migraine: a review of current abortive and prophylactic therapies.

After menarche, women have an increased prevalence of migraine compared to men. There is significant variability in the frequency and severity of migraine throughout the menstrual cycle. Women report migraines occur more frequently during menses, and that those are more severe than other migraines. This creates a unique challenge of effectively treating menstrually related and pure menstrual migraines. As with treatment of other migraines, both abortive and prophylactic treatment regimens are used. Triptans demonstrate efficacy in the abortive management of menstrually related and pure menstrual migraines. For migraines that occur primarily during menses or that are particularly resistant to other therapies, intermittent prophylactic therapies can be used. Naproxen and estrogens have been studied for this use. More recently, triptans have been examined and have shown efficacy for intermittent prophylaxis of menstrual migraine.

The possible protective role of personality dimensions against premenstrual syndrome.

Previous studies suggest that women with premenstrual syndrome (PMS) differ from those without PMS in personality dimensions, but it is not clear what role personality plays in the background of premenstrual symptomatology. Our purpose was to examine personality dimensions measured by the Tridimensional Character Inventory (TCI) in psychiatrically healthy women not suffering from premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) in relation to the severity of distressing and impairing mental and physical symptoms experienced in the late luteal phase of the menstrual cycle. Forty healthy women completed the prospective record of the Impact and Severity of Menstrual Symptoms (PRISM) calendar every evening through three consecutive menstrual cycles and were assigned into LPS (luteal phase symptom) vs. non-LPS groups. Our grouping did not reflect categorization according to the presence of PMS, since we investigated healthy women. Personality characteristics were evaluated using the TCI. LPS subjects scored significantly higher in subscales associated with novelty seeking (NS), self-directedness (S), cooperation (C) and self-transcendence (ST), and lower in the harm avoidance (HA) scale. Elevated scores of women with higher symptom severity in the late luteal phase in NS, S, ST and C scales and lower HA scores are in contrast with previous results on personality traits associated with PMS. However, we investigated psychiatrically healthy women. Therefore, our results suggest that this personality profile is a protective factor against developing serious psychiatric symptoms when experiencing a distressing and more marked symptomatology associated with the late luteal phase of the reproductive cycle.