Facts & Figures
Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder (PMDD) and Premenstrual Exacerbation (PME) impact millions of people worldwide, but they remain widely misunderstood, underdiagnosed, and often dismissed. At IAPMD, we believe accurate data is a powerful tool for change.
This page brings together key statistics and global estimates to highlight the true scale and impact of premenstrual disorders. You'll find prevalence rates, demographic insights, and comparisons to other health conditions based on the most current and credible sources, including WHO data.
Understanding the numbers helps drive awareness, research funding, and better care. Let the data speak and help amplify the voices behind it.
6 out of 195 Countries
These figures represent the estimated number of people living with Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder (PMDD) in just six countries, out of 195 worldwide. Yet PMDD continues to be underdiagnosed, underfunded, and deeply misunderstood.
When you include the remaining 189 countries, the estimated global total climbs to 115 million.
This is why raising awareness, advancing research, and ensuring access to compassionate, informed care matters, everywhere.
PMDD is Misunderstood & Costing Lives
This isn’t just a misdiagnosis, it’s a crisis. These aren’t just statistics; they’re years of pain, confusion, and isolation. For many, these delays lead to job loss, broken relationships, and repeated mental health crises. Some don’t survive.
Economic & Personal Impact
The toll of this journey goes far beyond the physical.
It drains people emotionally, mentally, and financially.
Many face medical burnout, self-doubt, and a deep sense of hopelessness—especially when their symptoms are ignored, misdiagnosed, or dismissed. The financial cost only adds to the weight: endless appointments, incorrect treatments, lost income, reduced ability to work, and the strain on relationships all take a serious toll.
PMDD and PME deserve better.
A timely diagnosis, knowledgeable providers, and access to effective, compassionate care aren’t optional—they’re essential.
PMDD leads to a significant economic and personal burden, including:
→ Missed workdays
→ Lost productivity
→ Unnecessary or incorrect treatments
→ Mental health crisis care
→ Strained relationships
→ Career disruption
→ Educational challenges
→ Financial stress due to ongoing healthcare needs
A Long Road with Few Answers
On average, individuals with PMDD spend twelve years seeking answers. That’s longer than it takes to become a doctor or raise a child to middle school or the early years of secondary school.
Many try five to seven different treatments along the way, ranging from psychiatric medications to birth control, supplements, and various therapies.
Despite these efforts, over 75% report cycling through multiple options before finding even partial relief. The trial-and-error nature of care leaves many feeling like they're navigating a broken system without a map.
Self-Harm and Suicidality
Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder (PMDD) and Premenstrual Exacerbation (PME) are associated with significantly elevated risks of suicidal ideation, self-harm, and suicide attempts. These risks are often cyclical, intensifying during the luteal phase, also known as the premenstrual phase—the two weeks before menstruation.
The high prevalence of suicidality among individuals with PMDD and PME highlights the need for increased awareness, accurate diagnosis, and comprehensive treatment strategies for PMDD and PME to mitigate these severe mental health risks. Healthcare providers should be vigilant in screening for these conditions and providing appropriate interventions.