--- title: Does luteal phase sertraline treatment affect stress hormones and inflammation in PMDD? description: Sertraline during the luteal phase changed stress hormone levels in complex ways depending on other hormonal factors, but results were mixed and this explorat url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/luteal-phase-sertraline-treatment-of-premenstrual-dysphoric-disorder-pmdd-2024/ --- - [Niyora](https://niyora.com/) - [Research](https://niyora.com/research/) - [Library](https://niyora.com/research/library/) - Does luteal phase sertraline treatment affect stress hormones and inflammation in PMDD? Non-randomised trial, 2024 # Does luteal phase sertraline treatment affect stress hormones and inflammation in PMDD? Sertraline during the luteal phase changed stress hormone levels in complex ways depending on other hormonal factors, but results were mixed and this exploratory study had no placebo control group. Early or limited evidence 77 women aged 18-50 with regular cycles, including 36 with PMDD and 41 controls; 28 PMDD patients received treatment ## What they did After two months of daily symptom tracking, women with PMDD and controls gave blood samples during follicular and luteal phases while completing a mildly stressful task. In a second luteal phase, 28 women with PMDD received sertraline 50 mg daily from ovulation to menses. Researchers measured stress hormones and inflammation markers. ## What they found Women with PMDD receiving sertraline showed that higher levels of a neurosteroid called allopregnanolone (ALLO) predicted lower cortisol peaks in the treated luteal phase (p=0.042). Cortisol peaks were higher in the treated versus untreated luteal phase (p=0.038). Complete results for inflammation markers were not presented in this abstract. ## What it means for you Sertraline may affect how the body handles stress during the luteal phase in PMDD, though how it works is complex. This was an exploratory study with no control group for the treatment itself, so findings need replication in larger randomized trials. The incomplete results also limit what we can conclude. 77 Total participants 50 mg Daily sertraline dose 28 PMDD women who completed treatment ## About the study Original title Luteal phase sertraline treatment of premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD): Effects on markers of hypothalamic pituitary adrenal (HPA) axis activation and inflammation Authors Barone JC, Ho A, Osborne LM et al. Journal Psychoneuroendocrinology Year 2024 Study design Non-randomised trial Participants 77 What was tested Luteal phase sertraline 50 mg daily from ovulation to menses Open access Yes Read the paper [doi.org/10.1016/j.psyneuen.2024.107145](https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psyneuen.2024.107145) ## 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/)[Stress](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-stress/)[SSRIs and antidepressants](https://niyora.com/research/topics/treatment-ssri/)[Neurosteroids (allopregnanolone)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/treatment-neurosteroids/)[Major depressive disorder](https://niyora.com/research/topics/comorbidity-major-depression/)[Pregnancy and postpartum](https://niyora.com/research/topics/comorbidity-postpartum/) 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 What treatments work for PMDD? Randomised trial, 2024 Does sertraline change brain chemicals in people with PMDD, and does this relate to symptom improvement? Cohort study, 2022 What are PMS and PMDD and how should they be diagnosed and treated? Randomised trial, 2017 Does Sepranolone reduce symptoms of severe premenstrual syndrome (PMDD)? Review, 2012 Is depression linked to hormonal changes during the menstrual cycle, pregnancy, and menopause? Survey study, 2002 What treatments work for depression linked to the menstrual cycle and PMDD? Ask AI about this page Copy prompt ChatGPT ↗ Claude ↗ Perplexity ↗ Google AI Mode ↗ Grok ↗