--- title: Does adding progestagen to estrogen cause PMS-like symptoms? | Niyora description: Yes. Women who took estrogen plus progestagen developed cyclical mood and physical symptoms similar to PMS, while women on estrogen alone did not. Symptoms ap url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/cyclical-mood-changes-as-in-the-premenstrual-tension-syndrome-during-sequential-1985/ --- - [Niyora](https://niyora.com/) - [Research](https://niyora.com/research/) - [Library](https://niyora.com/research/library/) - Does adding progestagen to estrogen cause PMS-like symptoms? Study, 1985 # Does adding progestagen to estrogen cause PMS-like symptoms? Yes. Women who took estrogen plus progestagen developed cyclical mood and physical symptoms similar to PMS, while women on estrogen alone did not. Symptoms appeared 1 to 3 days after progestagen was added. Early or limited evidence 22 postmenopausal women requiring estrogen treatment ## What they did Researchers recruited 22 postmenopausal women needing estrogen treatment and divided them into two groups of 11. One group received estrogen cream only (3 mg per day for 21 days followed by 7 days off). The other group received the same estrogen but also took progestagen during the last 11 days of treatment. All women kept daily records of mood, physical signs and other feelings for 1 to 6 months. ## What they found The group taking estrogen alone showed no cyclical changes in mood or physical signs. The group taking estrogen plus progestagen showed clear cyclical changes in both mood and physical symptoms, with the worst symptoms in the final days of progestagen treatment. Negative mood changes started 1 to 3 days after progestagen was added. ## What it means for you The results suggest progestagen may trigger the cyclical symptoms seen in PMS. However, this study was done in postmenopausal women taking hormone replacement therapy, not younger women with natural menstrual cycles, so we cannot be sure the same mechanism explains PMS in other women. 22 women total 11 women in each group 1 to 3 days time for mood to worsen after progestagen started ## About the study Original title Cyclical mood changes as in the premenstrual tension syndrome during sequential estrogen-progestagen postmenopausal replacement therapy Authors Hammarbäck S, Bäckström T, Holst J et al. Journal Acta obstetricia et gynecologica Scandinavica Year 1985 Study design Study Participants 11 Read the paper [doi.org/10.3109/00016348509155154](https://doi.org/10.3109/00016348509155154) ## Topics [Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pms/)[Anxiety and tension](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-anxiety/)[Estradiol, progesterone and hormone therapy](https://niyora.com/research/topics/treatment-hormone-therapy/)[Perimenopause and menopause](https://niyora.com/research/topics/comorbidity-perimenopause/) 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 Randomised trial, 2006 Do women with a history of PMS react differently to hormone therapy after menopause? Review, 2010 Is the menopause transition a risky time for depression to develop? Survey study, 2001 How do steroid hormones affect the brain and cause symptoms? Guideline, 2024 How should Xiangshao Granules be prescribed for premenstrual tension syndrome? Review, 2018 Which women are most likely to experience hot flashes during menopause? Review, 2012 How should premenstrual disorders be diagnosed and organized? Ask AI about this page Copy prompt ChatGPT ↗ Claude ↗ Perplexity ↗ Google AI Mode ↗ Grok ↗