---
title: Do women with PMDD feel pain differently at different points in their menstrual cycle?
description: Women with PMDD reported higher pain ratings to electrical stimulation and had lower testosterone levels than women without PMDD. Pain processing may be ampli
url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/nociceptive-processing-in-women-with-premenstrual-dysphoric-disorder-pmdd-the-2015/
---

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- Do women with PMDD feel pain differently at different points in their menstrual cycle?

Survey study, 2015

# Do women with PMDD feel pain differently at different points in their menstrual cycle?

Women with PMDD reported higher pain ratings to electrical stimulation and had lower testosterone levels than women without PMDD. Pain processing may be amplified in the brain rather than in the spinal cord during PMDD.

 Moderate study design

14 women with PMDD and 14 women without PMDD

## What they did

Researchers tested pain sensitivity in 14 women with PMDD and 14 without during three different phases of the menstrual cycle. They measured pain thresholds using electrical and blood pressure cuff stimuli, and tested hormone levels in saliva.

## What they found

Women with PMDD had higher sensory pain ratings of electrical stimuli and trends for lower ischemic thresholds and higher emotional pain ratings. Testosterone levels were lower in the PMDD group during mid-follicular and ovulatory phases. No differences were found in spinal nerve reflex measurements. Testosterone and estradiol appeared to reduce pain.

## What it means for you

The pain sensitivity in PMDD likely happens in brain processing rather than at the spinal cord level. Lower hormone levels may contribute to increased pain, but the study was small and only measured pain in lab settings, not daily life.

14

Women with PMDD tested

14

Women without PMDD tested

3

Menstrual cycle phases tested

## About the study

Original title Nociceptive processing in women with premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD): the role of menstrual phase and sex hormones Authors Bartley EJ, Palit S, Kuhn BL et al. Journal The Clinical journal of pain Year 2015 Study design Survey study What was tested Observation at different menstrual cycle phases Read the paper [doi.org/10.1097/ajp.0000000000000112](https://doi.org/10.1097/ajp.0000000000000112)

## Topics

[Premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pmdd/)[Low mood and depression](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-depression-mood/)[Pain and headache](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-pain/)

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