---
title: How do stress hormones affect the menstrual cycle and PMS? | Niyora
description: Stress hormones in the brain can suppress the hormones needed for normal menstruation and ovulation. Changes in certain brain chemicals during the cycle may b
url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/corticotropin-releasing-hormone-and-opioid-peptides-in-reproduction-and-stress-1991/
---

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- How do stress hormones affect the menstrual cycle and PMS?

Survey study, 1991

# How do stress hormones affect the menstrual cycle and PMS?

Stress hormones in the brain can suppress the hormones needed for normal menstruation and ovulation. Changes in certain brain chemicals during the cycle may be linked to PMS symptoms, but evidence comes mainly from animal studies and theory rather than clinical trials.

 Early or limited evidence

Review article examining research in humans and animals

## What they did

This is a review article that examines how stress hormones (corticotropin releasing hormone and opioid peptides) affect reproductive function by reviewing published research on how these hormones change during stress, exercise, pregnancy, and the menstrual cycle.

## What they found

Stress hormones increase in the brain during stress and stop release of hormones needed for ovulation, potentially causing absent periods. During the menstrual cycle, progesterone and estrogen increase beta-endorphin during the luteal phase (after ovulation), then it falls at menstruation. These changes may cause PMS symptoms. In animal studies and small human studies, blocking opioid receptors with naltrexone restored ovulation in women with amenorrhea, though effects on fertility are unknown.

## What it means for you

Stress hormones appear linked to menstrual problems and possibly PMS, but the evidence is mainly from animal studies and theory rather than clinical trials in humans. The main limitation is that this is a review article, not a study with human participants, and it partly relies on animal research.

Beta-endorphin

brain chemical rises in luteal phase, falls at menstruation

Naltrexone

restored ovulation in amenorrhea in small studies

CRH

stress hormone that suppresses ovulation

## About the study

Original title Corticotropin-releasing hormone and opioid peptides in reproduction and stress Authors Laatikainen TJ Journal Annals of medicine Year 1991 Study design Survey study What was tested Discussion of naltrexone (blocking opioid receptors) restoring ovulation in small studies Read the paper [doi.org/10.3109/07853899109150508](https://doi.org/10.3109/07853899109150508)

## 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/)[GnRH agonists and ovarian suppression](https://niyora.com/research/topics/treatment-gnrh/)[Exercise and yoga](https://niyora.com/research/topics/treatment-exercise/)[Perimenopause and menopause](https://niyora.com/research/topics/comorbidity-perimenopause/)[Pregnancy and postpartum](https://niyora.com/research/topics/comorbidity-postpartum/)[Work and productivity](https://niyora.com/research/topics/life-area-work/)[Relationships and partners](https://niyora.com/research/topics/life-area-relationships/)[Adolescents and young people](https://niyora.com/research/topics/life-area-adolescents/)

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