--- title: Do women with PMDD have different ovaries or hormones than women without it? description: Women with PMDD had significantly fewer developing egg follicles than women without PMDD, but did not have polycystic ovaries or higher male hormones as resea url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/ovarian-morphology-in-premenstrual-dysphoria-2012/ --- - [Niyora](https://niyora.com/) - [Research](https://niyora.com/research/) - [Library](https://niyora.com/research/library/) - Do women with PMDD have different ovaries or hormones than women without it? Survey study, 2012 # Do women with PMDD have different ovaries or hormones than women without it? Women with PMDD had significantly fewer developing egg follicles than women without PMDD, but did not have polycystic ovaries or higher male hormones as researchers expected. Early or limited evidence 26 women with PMDD and 26 age-matched controls ## What they did Cross-sectional study comparing 26 women with PMDD and 26 age-matched controls. Researchers used transvaginal ultrasound on day 5 after the start of menstruation and blood tests on multiple days to measure ovaries and hormone levels. ## What they found No significant differences between groups in polycystic ovaries, total follicles, ovarian volume, or androgen hormone levels. Women with PMDD were significantly more likely to have ovaries with fewer than five developing follicles (p=0.016). Free testosterone levels showed an inverse association with irritability symptoms. ## What it means for you PMDD is probably not caused by polycystic ovaries or too much male hormone as researchers thought. Fewer developing follicles might be linked to PMDD but needs more study. The study was small with only one measurement timepoint. 26 women with PMDD 26 age-matched controls 0.016 p-value for fewer follicles in PMDD group ## About the study Original title Ovarian morphology in premenstrual dysphoria Authors Eriksson O, Landén M, Sundblad C et al. Journal Psychoneuroendocrinology Year 2012 Study design Survey study What was tested Ovarian ultrasound and hormone testing Read the paper [doi.org/10.1016/j.psyneuen.2011.09.005](https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psyneuen.2011.09.005) ## 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/)[Irritability and anger](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-irritability-anger/)[GnRH agonists and ovarian suppression](https://niyora.com/research/topics/treatment-gnrh/)[Surgical menopause](https://niyora.com/research/topics/treatment-surgery/)[Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/comorbidity-pcos/) 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 Cohort study, 2022 What are PMS and PMDD and how should they be diagnosed and treated? Review, 2012 Is depression linked to hormonal changes during the menstrual cycle, pregnancy, and menopause? Case report, 2023 Can stopping ovulation help severe PMDD when other treatments do not work? Survey study, 2022 What factors make PMS mood swings worse? Lab study, 2022 Can we create a rat model of PMDD irritability and does treatment help? Review, 2018 How should doctors diagnose and treat PMDD? Ask AI about this page Copy prompt ChatGPT ↗ Claude ↗ Perplexity ↗ Google AI Mode ↗ Grok ↗