Review, 1990
How do hormones affect brain chemicals that control mood?
Sex hormones change how the brain's serotonin system works across the menstrual cycle. Stopping ovulation with danazol eliminated premenstrual mood changes in studied women, showing a hormone-mood connection.
What they did
Reviewed research on how sex hormones affect serotonin (a brain chemical related to mood) throughout the menstrual cycle. Also presented studies testing drugs that affect or activate the serotonin system at different cycle phases, and danazol, a medication that stops ovulation.
What they found
Serotonin receptor activity in blood was lower in women with premenstrual dysphoric changes in the early second half of the cycle, about 5 to 7 days after ovulation. This timing occurs 5 to 7 days before their mood symptoms appear. Responses to serotonin-affecting drugs were weaker right before the period compared to mid-cycle. Danazol, which stops ovulation, eliminated premenstrual dysphoric symptoms in treated women.
What it means for you
Changes in how the brain uses serotonin may explain why some women experience mood changes before their period. Stopping ovulation relieves premenstrual mood symptoms in some women. The research is limited because we don't fully understand all the mechanisms and individual responses to treatments vary.
5 to 7 days
time after ovulation when serotonin changes occur
About the study
- Original title
- Gonadal hormones and antihormones, serotonin and mood
- Authors
- Halbreich U
- Journal
- Psychopharmacology bulletin
- Year
- 1990
- Study design
- Review
- What was tested
- Serotonin-affecting drugs and danazol (ovulation suppressant)
- Read the paper
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/2274628/
Topics
Related studies
Cohort study, 2022
What are PMS and PMDD and how should they be diagnosed and treated?
Systematic review, 2024
What are the best treatments for PMDD and PMS?
Systematic review, 2022
What are the best treatments for PMDD and PMS?
Review, 2015
What do we know about PMS and PMDD and how are they treated?
Review, 2008
What medications are FDA-approved for treating PMDD?
Study, 2026
What treatments work for PMDD?