Case-control study, 2024
Do steroid hormone levels change differently across the menstrual cycle in women with PMDD?
Yes. Progesterone rises earlier in the cycle in women with PMDD, leading to higher levels around ovulation and a sharper drop in the late luteal phase. This different pattern may trigger symptoms.
What they did
Women with PMDD and healthy controls had blood samples at 8 key timepoints across the menstrual cycle. Using mass spectrometry, researchers measured 9 steroid hormones including progesterone and allopregnanolone, with data realigned so all women were compared at the same biological window.
What they found
Only progesterone showed significant differences between women with PMDD and controls (p ≤ 0.001). In women with PMDD, progesterone rose earlier in the luteal phase, exposing them to higher progesterone around ovulation and a sharper drop in the late luteal phase. The other 8 steroid hormones did not show significant differences between groups.
What it means for you
The timing and rate of progesterone change, not just the level itself, may be key to PMDD. Early rise followed by sharp withdrawal appears linked to negative mood. The 8-timepoint design is more rigorous than many studies, making findings more reliable.
8
Blood sampling timepoints
9
Steroid hormones measured
p ≤ 0.001
Progesterone difference
About the study
- Original title
- Neuroactive steroid hormone trajectories across the menstrual cycle in premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD): the PHASE study
- Authors
- Hamidovic A, Mumford S, Schisterman E et al.
- Journal
- Molecular psychiatry
- Year
- 2024
- Study design
- Case-control study
- What was tested
- Blood collection at 8 menstrual cycle timepoints for hormone analysis
- Read the paper
- doi.org/10.1038/s41380-024-02566-w
Topics
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