Confronting women's dilemma: a qualitative study on premenstrual syndrome (PMS) / Nur Lyana Ahmad Fuzi

Background:Premenstrual syndrome (PMS) is a common thing in women. It occurs from one day to two weeks before getting the onset of menstruations. Many kinds of experiences that women felt and the severity differs from one woman to another. Objectives: This study focuses on the methods that women use to cope with PMS and their honest opinions about PMS. Methods: Respondents were recruited from February to June 2013 through poster advertisements around UiTM Puncak Alam campus, advertisement through social network (Facebook) and some respondents were individually approached. Semi­ structured interviews were conducted and all face-to-face interviews were audio recorded and transcribed verbatim. For those who responded through Facebook chat, the online conversation was saved. The transcripts were analyzed using thematic analysis. Results:ignoring the symptoms of PMS had been the most used method in coping with PMS among women. There are still many strategies used such as resting, emotional coping and traditional methods were found depending on the severity of PMS. Besides, opinions from women about PMS mostly agree that it would be satisfying if PMS is absent. Conclusions.Tue methods in coping with PMS are usually depending on the severity of PMS that the women had to go through. Besides, the personal opinions from women on PMS could aid in improving the education of society on PMS.