Study, 1998
How do stress and stress chemicals relate to premenstrual symptoms?
Stress and stress-related chemicals in the body are linked to premenstrual mood and fluid retention symptoms, but the relationships differ depending on whether a woman has PMS or premenstrual magnification.
What they did
74 women with low symptom severity, PMS, or premenstrual magnification collected urine samples daily over one menstrual cycle. They also recorded their daily symptoms and stress levels.
What they found
In women with PMS, stress predicted mood symptoms and higher cortisol in the luteal phase predicted fluid retention. In women with premenstrual magnification, lower norepinephrine, higher stress, and a slower drop in estradiol predicted mood symptoms, while norepinephrine, epinephrine, and stress predicted fluid retention.
What it means for you
Stress and stress chemicals are connected to premenstrual symptoms, but differently depending on a woman's symptom pattern. This suggests treatments might need to target different hormonal and stress factors for different women.
74
women in the study
About the study
- Original title
- Luteal phase ovarian steroids, stress arousal, premenses perceived stress, and premenstrual symptoms
- Authors
- Woods NF, Lentz MJ, Mitchell ES et al.
- Journal
- Research in nursing & health
- Year
- 1998
- Study design
- Study
- Participants
- 74
Topics
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