To compare perimenstrual (premenstrual, menstrual, postmenstrual) symptoms by concurrent reporting using the Women's Daily Health Diary (WDHD) and by retrospective reporting using the Moos Menstrual Distress Questionnaire (MMDQ).

A prospective and retrospective study was conducted among 31 Korean women, aged 27 to 48 yrs, living in the USA.

On the prospective report using the WDHD, the most severe complaints were fatigue or tiredness (1.48 +/−.98), sensation of weight gain (.88+/−98), increased appetite (.79+/−.96) in premenstrual phase, fatigue or tiredness (1.34+/−.85), backaches (1.06+/+.79), and bloating or swelling of the abdomen (.93+/−.86) during the menstrual phase. On the retrospective report using the MMDQ, the most severe complaints during the premenstrual phase were fatigue (2.2 6+/−1.65), irritability (2.06+/−1.48), and backaches (1.97+/−1.68) and during the menstrual phase backaches (2.35+/−1.62), fatigue (2.29+/−1.75), and cramps (2.23+/−1.80). According to both measurements of PMS symptomology during the premenstrual and menstrual phases, the most frequently reported symptom was fatigue or tiredness. Highly rated symptoms on the MMDQ and on the WDHD were found to be similar.

The WDHD was found to be suitable for daily prospective PMS assessment, which will be necessary for the screening and management of women with severe PMS.