Non-randomised trial, 1994
Is PMS caused by imbalance in brain opioid activity?
This study did not find evidence for this theory. Brain opioid response was similar in women with PMS and women without PMS.
What they did
Prospective study testing whether PMS involves problems with the body's natural pain-relieving opioid chemicals. Researchers gave women with PMS and controls naloxone (a drug that blocks opioids) at five different times across the menstrual cycle and measured luteinizing hormone response.
What they found
All women had similar luteinizing hormone response to hormone-releasing hormone testing. When naloxone was given, there were no significant differences in response between PMS women and controls on any of the five test days.
What it means for you
This particular theory of what causes PMS was not supported by the study. However, this does not rule out other biological causes of PMS. The main limit is the very small sample size.
5
naloxone infusions per subject
30%
symptom increase threshold for PMS
4
hours of naloxone infusion
About the study
- Original title
- Effect of naloxone on luteinizing hormone secretion in premenstrual syndrome
- Authors
- Chuong CJ, Hsi BP
- Journal
- Fertility and sterility
- Year
- 1994
- Study design
- Non-randomised trial
- Participants
- 5
- What was tested
- Naloxone infusion 2 mg per hour for 4 hours at five times across the cycle
- Open access
- Yes
- Read the paper
- doi.org/10.1016/s0015-0282(16)56753-3
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