Premenstrual syndrome specialty clinics are reported to be almost
exclusively attended by white women. This racial discrepancy has raised the
question of whether there is a lower prevalence or severity of symptoms
during the premenstruum among black women. The authors evaluated selected
premenstrual symptoms in a representative community- based sample and found
no difference in the prevalence or severity of premenstrual symptoms
reported by black and white women, except for a higher prevalence of food
cravings among blacks. Exploration of broader sociocultural factors may
explain the observed racial difference in seeking help for premenstrual
complaints.
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