---
title: Is cortisol response different in women with PMS compared to women without PMS?
description: Women with PMS showed the same cortisol response as women without PMS during different phases of the menstrual cycle. Control subjects tested once showed high
url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/cortisol-response-to-dexamethasone-in-women-with-premenstrual-syndrome-1986/
---

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- Is cortisol response different in women with PMS compared to women without PMS?

Case-control study, 1986

# Is cortisol response different in women with PMS compared to women without PMS?

Women with PMS showed the same cortisol response as women without PMS during different phases of the menstrual cycle. Control subjects tested once showed higher cortisol in the middle weeks of the cycle, but we do not know if women with PMS follow this pattern.

 Early or limited evidence

Women with PMS and control subjects

## What they did

Researchers tested how cortisol responded to dexamethasone (a hormone test) in women with PMS and control women during two different phases of the menstrual cycle (follicular and luteal).

## What they found

There were no significant differences in cortisol response between women with PMS and control women in either menstrual phase. Control subjects showed higher cortisol levels in the middle 2 weeks of the menstrual cycle compared with the first and last weeks.

## What it means for you

The study suggests cortisol may vary normally throughout the menstrual cycle, possibly from estrogen effects. However, the research does not tell us whether women with PMS have abnormal patterns. The researchers suggest testing cortisol weekly in women with PMS to determine if they show this normal cyclic pattern or if it is absent.

2

menstrual cycle phases tested

2 weeks

middle of cycle with higher cortisol

## About the study

Original title Cortisol response to dexamethasone in women with premenstrual syndrome Authors Roy-Byrne PP, Rubinow DR, Gwirtsman H et al. Journal Neuropsychobiology Year 1986 Study design Case-control study What was tested Dexamethasone test Read the paper [doi.org/10.1159/000118298](https://doi.org/10.1159/000118298)

## Topics

[Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pms/)[Stress](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-stress/)

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