---
title: Is PMS caused by abnormal hormone levels? | Niyora
description: No. Women with PMS have normal hormone levels but respond abnormally to them. When hormones are suppressed, symptoms improve. When hormones return, symptoms r
url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/differential-behavioral-effects-of-gonadal-steroids-in-women-with-and-in-those-1998/
---

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- Is PMS caused by abnormal hormone levels?

Randomised trial, 1998

# Is PMS caused by abnormal hormone levels?

No. Women with PMS have normal hormone levels but respond abnormally to them. When hormones are suppressed, symptoms improve. When hormones return, symptoms recur only in women with PMS.

 Moderate study design

20 women total: 10 with premenstrual syndrome and 10 without

## What they did

20 women (10 with PMS, 10 without) first received either a hormone-suppressing drug (leuprolide) or placebo. The 10 women with PMS whose symptoms improved then received estrogen and progesterone supplements separately for 4 weeks each during continued hormone suppression.

## What they found

Women with PMS improved when hormones were suppressed, then had significant symptom recurrence when estrogen or progesterone were restored. Normal women showed no mood changes with the same hormone treatment.

## What it means for you

The problem in PMS is not abnormal hormone levels but an abnormal response to normal hormones. This was a small but carefully designed study that included a comparison group of women without PMS.

10

women with PMS

10

normal women without PMS

4

weeks per hormone treatment period

## About the study

Original title Differential behavioral effects of gonadal steroids in women with and in those without premenstrual syndrome Authors Schmidt PJ, Nieman LK, Danaceau MA et al. Journal The New England journal of medicine Year 1998 Study design Randomised trial Participants 20 What was tested Leuprolide (hormone-suppressing drug) or placebo, followed by estradiol or progesterone supplements Open access Yes Read the paper [doi.org/10.1056/nejm199801223380401](https://doi.org/10.1056/nejm199801223380401)

## Topics

[Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pms/)[GnRH agonists and ovarian suppression](https://niyora.com/research/topics/treatment-gnrh/)

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