Survey study, 2019
Does allopregnanolone, a hormone made from progesterone, affect premenstrual mood?
Growing evidence suggests allopregnanolone may influence mood during the premenstrual phase and other reproductive times, but exactly how it works is not yet clear.
What they did
Reviewed recent research on allopregnanolone's role in mood across reproductive transitions: at the start of periods, during the menstrual cycle, around childbirth, and at menopause.
What they found
Signs of dysregulated allopregnanolone were found at all reproductive transitions and were linked to mood symptoms. However, the exact relationship, how it connects to other systems, and whether hormone changes cause mood changes or the reverse remain unclear.
What it means for you
Allopregnanolone may help explain why some women experience mood changes in the premenstrual phase, but much more research is needed. The connection may work differently for different women, and current evidence is not yet consistent.
About the study
- Original title
- Allopregnanolone and reproductive psychiatry: an overview
- Authors
- McEvoy K, Osborne LM
- Journal
- International review of psychiatry (Abingdon, England)
- Year
- 2019
- Study design
- Survey study
- What was tested
- None
- Open access
- Yes
- Read the paper
- doi.org/10.1080/09540261.2018.1553775
Topics
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