Purpose of this study was to examine whether premenstrual symptoms of teenage women and women in their early twenties include symptoms that are caused by abdominal pain or not. Prospective ratings of 238 menstrual cycles, collected from 109 Japanese college students, were analyzed. Any cycle with symptoms was classified as to whether they were accompanied by abdominal cramps or not. Each group was factor analyzed in order to examine the characteristics. For the No Cramps Group, the characteristics were similar to those of original 'premenstrual syndrome (PMS)'. For the Cramps Group, the characteristics of this group were that even though the symptoms started to be evident in the premenstrual period, they continue and build toward a peak during the menstrual phase. By regression analysis, it was clarified that the characteristics of this group were brought on by the abdominal pain. The characteristics of this group were incompatible with the typical definition of PMS. Therefore, the authors have proposed a new concept, which is 'peri-menstrual syndrome, (PEMS)' and accordingly, in this study PEMS is taken as meaning: 'Mental and social symptoms which, make their appearance in the premenstrual phase, continue and peak in the menstrual phase and disappear at the end of menstruation, are caused as a result of menstrual cramps'.

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The aim of this research is to explore the relations between arteriosclerosis according to aging and personality tendencies in country-living women over forty years. 40 women from 41 years to 76 years old were subjects. Degree of arteriosclerosis (ASI) was measured by Cardio-vision MS2000. Also blood concentration of estradiol (E2), total cholesterol, triglyceride, HDL, adrenaline, nor-adrenaline, dopamine, ACTH, cortisol were measured. Characters of women were estimated by using Y-G characteristic inventory and Profiles of Mood States (POMS). Women in their fifties showed higher A-H (anger and hostility), F (fatigue) scores and lower score of V (vitality) in POMS, which suggested that these women were inclined to be in depressive states. Plasma cortisol showed significant increase in these women compared with the women in forties. In their forties and fifties, women with regular menstruation cycles and the women with irregular menstruation cycles were compared. The later showed significantly higher levels of ACTH and cortisol than the former group. Adrenaline increased in proportion to their age, but more also significantly higher in the women who showed higher scores in Y-G social maladjustment scores. Women who showed higher Y-G social maladjustment scores showed higher total cholesterol and triglyceride than others. Y-G social maladjustment scores correlated with POMS A-H scores. From these, we concluded that the women who have social maladjustment tendencies were at higher risk of arteriosclerosis or coronary heart attack due to their higher level of adrenaline, total cholesterol, and triglyceride. To keep county living menopausal and elderly women healthy, systematic aids to cope with their emotional stresses and social problems are suggested to be important.

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