--- title: Do women with PMS have lower brain opioid activity than women without PMS? description: This small study found that women with PMS lacked the normal rise in a brain-opioid-linked hormone response seen in women without PMS, suggesting reduced opio url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/decreased-central-opioid-activity-in-premenstrual-syndrome-luteinizing-hormone-1996/ --- - [Niyora](https://niyora.com/) - [Research](https://niyora.com/research/) - [Library](https://niyora.com/research/library/) - Do women with PMS have lower brain opioid activity than women without PMS? Randomised trial, 1996 # Do women with PMS have lower brain opioid activity than women without PMS? This small study found that women with PMS lacked the normal rise in a brain-opioid-linked hormone response seen in women without PMS, suggesting reduced opioid activity may be involved in PMS. Early or limited evidence Women with prospectively confirmed PMS compared with control women without PMS, tested at two points in their menstrual cycle. ## What they did Researchers studied women with confirmed PMS and a comparison group of women without PMS. During two phases of the menstrual cycle, each woman was given naloxone (a drug that blocks opioid receptors) at one of two doses, or a placebo, and blood was tested every 15 minutes before and after to measure a hormone called LH (luteinizing hormone). ## What they found In the control (non-PMS) women, LH rose significantly after naloxone during the mid-luteal phase (P < .001), showing active opioid activity at that point in the cycle. Women with PMS did not show this rise. Neither group responded to naloxone later in the cycle (late luteal phase). Levels of other hormones (estradiol, progesterone, prolactin) were similar between the groups. ## What it means for you The results suggest that women with PMS may have weaker brain opioid activity at a key point in the cycle, which could contribute to PMS symptoms. This was a small, mechanistic hormone study, not a treatment trial, no overall sample size was stated, and it cannot prove that this difference causes PMS. P < .001 LH rise in controls (mid-luteal, with naloxone) 1 mg, 4 mg Naloxone doses tested ## About the study Original title Decreased central opioid activity in premenstrual syndrome: luteinizing hormone response to naloxone Authors Rapkin AJ, Shoupe D, Reading A et al. Journal Journal of the Society for Gynecologic Investigation Year 1996 Study design Randomised trial What was tested Naloxone (1 mg or 4 mg) or placebo, given to test opioid-related hormone response. Read the paper [doi.org/10.1016/1071-5576(95)00045-3](https://doi.org/10.1016/1071-5576(95)00045-3) ## Topics [Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pms/)[Cognition, concentration and memory](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-cognition/) 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 Systematic review, 2025 Does zinc supplementation help with PMS symptoms? Systematic review, 2025 Does teaching adolescent girls about their menstrual cycle and health help reduce period pain and PMS? Review, 2024 What are the most effective treatments for PMDD? Systematic review, 2024 Do SSRI antidepressants help treat PMS and PMDD? Cohort study, 2023 Are PMS symptoms linked to genetic factors for psychiatric disorders? Cohort study, 2023 Is PMDD a valid medical diagnosis? Ask AI about this page Copy prompt ChatGPT ↗ Claude ↗ Perplexity ↗ Google AI Mode ↗ Grok ↗