Survey study, 2010
Is lower blood serotonin linked to worse mood before menstruation?
Yes, women with lower blood serotonin during the premenstrual phase had worse tension, anxiety, and fatigue. However, the study is very small and only looked at healthy women, so results may not apply to women with PMS or PMDD.
What they did
Researchers measured serotonin levels in the blood of 13 healthy women during the premenstrual phase. They also asked women about their mood using a standard questionnaire. They looked for connections between serotonin levels, mood symptoms, and hormone levels (estrogen and progesterone).
What they found
Lower blood serotonin was significantly linked with higher tension-anxiety and fatigue scores during the premenstrual phase. Higher serotonin was significantly linked with higher estrogen levels during the premenstrual phase, but not during the follicular phase.
What it means for you
This suggests one reason why SSRI medications (which increase serotonin) help with PMS symptoms. However, the study is very small, only measured women once, and only included healthy women without PMS, so findings may not apply to women with PMS or PMDD.
13
healthy women studied
2
mood symptoms measured (tension-anxiety and fatigue)
About the study
- Original title
- Decreased blood serotonin in the premenstrual phase enhances negative mood in healthy women
- Authors
- Kikuchi H, Nakatani Y, Seki Y et al.
- Journal
- Journal of psychosomatic obstetrics and gynaecology
- Year
- 2010
- Study design
- Survey study
- Participants
- 13
- What was tested
- None - observation and blood testing
- Read the paper
- doi.org/10.3109/01674821003770606
Topics
Related studies
Survey study, 2012
What non-hormonal medications and therapies help severe PMS and PMDD?
Survey study, 2025
Can a plant-based supplement reduce PMS symptoms?
Lab study, 2025
Can genistein reduce anxiety in the premenstrual phase without raising estrogen?
Survey study, 2023
How common are PMS and PMDD among college girls, and what are their symptoms?
Randomised trial, 2023
Does a smartphone app for heart rate variability biofeedback reduce premenstrual and depressive symptoms?
Randomised trial, 2017
Does yoga help with PMS symptoms?