--- title: Are women with PMDD more sensitive to how light affects sleep hormones? description: The study tested whether women with PMDD respond differently to light exposure by measuring effects on melatonin, a hormone related to sleep, at different tim url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/increased-sensitivity-to-light-induced-melatonin-suppression-in-premenstrual-2010/ --- - [Niyora](https://niyora.com/) - [Research](https://niyora.com/research/) - [Library](https://niyora.com/research/library/) - Are women with PMDD more sensitive to how light affects sleep hormones? Study, 2010 # Are women with PMDD more sensitive to how light affects sleep hormones? The study tested whether women with PMDD respond differently to light exposure by measuring effects on melatonin, a hormone related to sleep, at different times in the menstrual cycle. Early or limited evidence 10 women with PMDD and 13 women without PMDD ## What they did Researchers exposed 10 women with PMDD and 13 women without PMDD to 200 lux of light (a specific brightness level) during two phases of the menstrual cycle: the mid-follicular phase and the late-luteal phase. They measured how much the light suppressed melatonin in each group at each cycle phase. ## What they found The study exposed 10 women with PMDD and 13 women without PMDD to 200 lux of light during the mid-follicular and late-luteal phases of their menstrual cycle, measuring how light suppressed melatonin production. ## What it means for you This research investigated whether PMDD involves differences in how the body responds to light or differences in circadian rhythm regulation. This is early research with a very small sample size, so the findings would need to be confirmed in larger studies. 10 women with PMDD 13 women without PMDD 200 lux of light exposure ## About the study Original title Increased sensitivity to light-induced melatonin suppression in premenstrual dysphoric disorder Authors Parry BL, Meliska CJ, Sorenson DL et al. Journal Chronobiology international Year 2010 Study design Study Participants 13 Open access Yes Read the paper [doi.org/10.3109/07420528.2010.503331](https://doi.org/10.3109/07420528.2010.503331) ## Topics [Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pms/)[Premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pmdd/)[Menstrual cycle and mood](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-cycle-mood/)[Low mood and depression](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-depression-mood/)[Sleep and insomnia](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-sleep/)[Light therapy and sleep deprivation](https://niyora.com/research/topics/treatment-light-therapy/)[Bipolar disorder](https://niyora.com/research/topics/comorbidity-bipolar/)[Major depressive disorder](https://niyora.com/research/topics/comorbidity-major-depression/) 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 Study, 2026 Do anxiety and depression get worse before your period if you already have a mental health condition? Cohort study, 2022 Do women with both bipolar disorder and PMDD have worse biological rhythm disruptions? Randomised trial, 1999 Does bright light therapy help PMDD symptoms like depression and tension? Randomised trial, 1994 How does light therapy affect hormone levels in women with PMDD? Review, 2024 Can wearable devices track mood changes in PMDD before they happen? Randomised trial, 2020 How should premenstrual syndrome be diagnosed and treated? Ask AI about this page Copy prompt ChatGPT ↗ Claude ↗ Perplexity ↗ Google AI Mode ↗ Grok ↗