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.
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
Topics
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