--- title: Is there a measurable body stress marker linked to PMS? | Niyora description: Yes, women with PMS had lower levels of a saliva immune marker (S-IgA) after their period and higher stress scores than women without PMS, but their cortisol url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/characteristics-of-perceived-stress-and-salivary-levels-of-secretory-2015/ --- - [Niyora](https://niyora.com/) - [Research](https://niyora.com/research/) - [Library](https://niyora.com/research/library/) - Is there a measurable body stress marker linked to PMS? Cohort study, 2015 # Is there a measurable body stress marker linked to PMS? Yes, women with PMS had lower levels of a saliva immune marker (S-IgA) after their period and higher stress scores than women without PMS, but their cortisol levels were no different, suggesting S-IgA may track PMS-related stress better than cortisol does. Early or limited evidence 13 women with PMS and 11 women without PMS, all with regular menstrual cycles, in the Kansai region of Japan. ## What they did A Japanese research team followed 13 women with PMS and 11 women without PMS, all with regular periods, for two full menstrual cycles in 2010. They collected saliva samples to measure an immune protein (S-IgA) and the stress hormone cortisol, and had women fill in a stress questionnaire, at premenstrual, menstrual and postmenstrual points in the cycle. ## What they found After their period, women with PMS had lower S-IgA levels than women without PMS (P < 0.05). Within the PMS group, S-IgA was higher before the period than after it (P < 0.05). Cortisol did not differ between groups or across cycle phases at all. Stress questionnaire scores were higher in the PMS group than controls before and after the period (P < 0.05), and lower S-IgA after the period was linked to higher stress scores (P < 0.05). ## What it means for you This hints that a saliva immune marker, rather than the stress hormone cortisol, might reflect the stress that comes with PMS. But the study only included 13 PMS women and 11 controls from one region of Japan, so it is too small to draw firm conclusions or apply widely. 13 Women with PMS studied 11 Control women studied P < 0.05 Significance level used ## About the study Original title Characteristics of Perceived Stress and Salivary Levels of Secretory Immunoglobulin A and Cortisol in Japanese Women With Premenstrual Syndrome Authors Watanabe K, Shirakawa T Journal Nursing and midwifery studies Year 2015 Study design Cohort study What was tested None tested; this was an observational study measuring saliva markers and stress scores across the menstrual cycle. Open access Yes Read the paper [doi.org/10.17795/nmsjournal24795](https://doi.org/10.17795/nmsjournal24795) ## Topics [Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pms/)[Cognition, concentration and memory](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-cognition/)[Stress](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-stress/) 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 Cohort study, 2021 Are low antioxidant vitamins or high oxidative stress linked to premenstrual syndrome? Randomised trial, 2019 Does online cognitive behavioral therapy help women with PMDD? Review, 2003 How do menstrual cycle hormones affect the brain and cause mood disorders like PMDD? Systematic review, 2026 Can mindfulness, yoga or qigong help with PMS symptoms? Survey study, 2025 Do menstrual problems and poor sleep affect mood and thinking in teenage girls? Cohort study, 2025 Do pain sensitivity and negative thinking explain how trauma and stress cause PMS or PMDD? Ask AI about this page Copy prompt ChatGPT ↗ Claude ↗ Perplexity ↗ Google AI Mode ↗ Grok ↗