Study, 2008
How do hormone levels differ in women with a certain type of PMS?
In women with a specific type of PMS, hormone peaks were lower during one cycle phase and completely absent during another. This pattern of low hormones may explain why some women develop PMS symptoms.
What they did
Researchers measured two hormones called estradiol and progesterone at different points in the menstrual cycle in women with this type of PMS. They used blood tests to measure hormone levels.
What they found
Women with this type of PMS had lower peak levels of estradiol and progesterone during the follicular phase than expected. During the luteal phase, there was no clear peak of these hormones. The researchers concluded that continuously low hormone levels might contribute to this type of PMS.
What it means for you
Low hormone levels during certain cycle phases may play a role in PMS. However, the study only looked at women who already had this type of PMS and did not compare them to women without PMS. It also focused on a specific type of PMS from traditional Chinese medicine, which may not apply to all women.
About the study
- Original title
- Dynamic changes in serum estradiol and progesterone levels in patients of premenstrual syndrome with adverse flow of liver-qi
- Authors
- Qiao M, Zhang H, Yu Y et al.
- Journal
- Journal of traditional Chinese medicine = Chung i tsa chih ying wen pan
- Year
- 2008
- Study design
- Study
- What was tested
- None - this was an observational study measuring hormone levels
- Open access
- Yes
- Read the paper
- doi.org/10.1016/s0254-6272(08)60026-6