--- title: Is there a link between PMS symptoms and how the nervous system controls heart rate? description: Possibly. Three women showed medium to high connections between their PMS symptoms and heart rate variability throughout the menstrual cycle, especially for m url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/associations-between-fluctuations-in-premenstrual-symptoms-and-vagally-mediated-2023/ --- - [Niyora](https://niyora.com/) - [Research](https://niyora.com/research/) - [Library](https://niyora.com/research/library/) - Is there a link between PMS symptoms and how the nervous system controls heart rate? Survey study, 2023 # Is there a link between PMS symptoms and how the nervous system controls heart rate? Possibly. Three women showed medium to high connections between their PMS symptoms and heart rate variability throughout the menstrual cycle, especially for mood symptoms. Early or limited evidence 3 participants with active menstrual cycles ## What they did Three participants completed daily measurements of heart rate variability using portable heart-rate devices and recorded their typical PMS symptoms throughout their menstrual cycle. ## What they found Medium to high correlations between PMS symptoms and heart rate variability in each participant. The link was stronger for psychological symptoms (mood) than for physiological symptoms (physical). Heart rate variability decreased during the mid to late luteal phase at the same time that PMS symptoms increased in each participant. ## What it means for you There may be a connection between how the vagus nerve affects the heart and PMS symptoms, particularly mood symptoms. However, this was a very small feasibility study with only 3 participants, so the findings cannot be applied to all women. Larger studies are needed. 3 participants medium to high correlations found ## About the study Original title Associations between fluctuations in premenstrual symptoms and vagally mediated heart rate variability in daily assessments throughout the menstrual cycle: a feasibility study Authors Berenike Lisa Blaser, Mathias Weymar, Julia Wendt Year 2023 Study design Survey study What was tested None Open access Yes Read the paper [doi.org/10.22541/au.170000985.55376250/v1](https://doi.org/10.22541/au.170000985.55376250/v1) ## Topics [Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pms/)[Menstrual cycle and mood](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-cycle-mood/)[Irritability and anger](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-irritability-anger/)[Bloating, breast tenderness and physical symptoms](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-physical-symptoms/)[Stress](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-stress/)[Alcohol, smoking and substance use](https://niyora.com/research/topics/comorbidity-substance-use/)[Relationships and partners](https://niyora.com/research/topics/life-area-relationships/)[Students and academic performance](https://niyora.com/research/topics/life-area-education/)[Stigma, attitudes and culture](https://niyora.com/research/topics/life-area-stigma-culture/) Research tells you what helps on average. Niyora helps on the day it hits. Calm down, see it another way, and decide what to say, with a PMS and PMDD app built by a doctor. ## Related studies Survey study, 2025 What psychological and personal factors predict which university students will develop premenstrual syndrome? Survey study, 2019 What are the best ways to manage PMS? Study, 2026 What are premenstrual syndrome and premenstrual dysphoric disorder? Survey study, 2024 What types of premenstrual syndrome exist and how common are they? Survey study, 2024 Does knowing about Ayurvedic yoga make teenage girls more interested in practicing it for PMS? Study, 2023 How does menstruation affect different areas of women's lives? Ask AI about this page Copy prompt ChatGPT ↗ Claude ↗ Perplexity ↗ Google AI Mode ↗ Grok ↗