Randomised trial, 2001
Does hormone replacement therapy change serotonin receptors in postmenopausal women?
No significant change was found in serotonin transporter or 5-HT2A receptor binding with hormone treatment in healthy postmenopausal women, though depressed women showed a more pronounced effect.
What they did
Researchers studied 23 postmenopausal women in a double-blind randomised crossover study. Each woman received 2 mg estradiol continuously during 28-day cycles. In the last 14 days of each cycle, she received either 10 mg medroxyprogesterone, 1 mg norethindrone, or placebo. Blood samples were taken before treatment and during the last week of each treatment to measure serotonin receptor binding.
What they found
There was no change in serotonin transporter binding or 5-HT2A receptor binding with any hormone treatment in the overall group. However, in women who were depressed, the decrease in 5-HT2A receptor binding during treatment was significantly more pronounced than in non-depressed women (P less than .05).
What it means for you
Hormone replacement therapy does not change serotonin receptors in healthy postmenopausal women, but may work differently in depressed women. This is a laboratory measurement of receptor binding, not a study of whether hormone therapy helps mood symptoms. Main limit: this only studied postmenopausal women, not women of reproductive age with PMS.
23
postmenopausal women
2 mg
daily estradiol dose
P<.05
significance in depressed subgroup
About the study
- Original title
- Influence of postmenopausal hormone replacement therapy on platelet serotonin uptake site and serotonin 2A receptor binding
- Authors
- Wihlbäck AC, Sundström-Poromaa I, Allard P et al.
- Journal
- Obstetrics and gynecology
- Year
- 2001
- Study design
- Randomised trial
- What was tested
- Estradiol 2 mg daily plus medroxyprogesterone, norethindrone, or placebo
- Read the paper
- doi.org/10.1016/s0029-7844(01)01461-2
Topics
Related studies
Review, 2012
How is PMS diagnosed and treated, especially in women approaching menopause?
Systematic review, 2007
What treatments work for premenstrual syndrome?
Review, 2020
Does pollen extract help with menopausal symptoms and premenstrual syndrome?
Non-randomised trial, 2014
Does hormone therapy help women with depression linked to periods and menopause?
Review, 2010
Is the menopause transition a risky time for depression to develop?
Study, 2001
What are the current treatment options for PMS and PMDD?