---
title: Are hormone level changes linked to premenstrual mood and behavior changes?
description: Yes. Peak progesterone levels, the rate at which progesterone decreased, and the ratio of progesterone to estradiol decrease rates were associated with premen
url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/premenstrual-changes-and-changes-in-gonadal-hormones-1986/
---

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- Are hormone level changes linked to premenstrual mood and behavior changes?

Survey study, 1986

# Are hormone level changes linked to premenstrual mood and behavior changes?

Yes. Peak progesterone levels, the rate at which progesterone decreased, and the ratio of progesterone to estradiol decrease rates were associated with premenstrual mood and behavior changes. There was a 4 to 7 day delay between hormone changes and mood changes.

 Early or limited evidence

17 women in Scandinavia with premenstrual changes of varying severity

## What they did

Researchers measured blood levels of estradiol and progesterone in 17 women with varying severity of premenstrual changes throughout their menstrual cycle. They tracked mood and behavior changes at the same time to look for correlations.

## What they found

Changes in mood and behavior were linked to peak progesterone levels, the rate progesterone decreased, and the ratio of progesterone to estradiol decrease rates. A time lag of 4 to 7 days was found between changes in hormone levels and changes in mood and behavior. The rate of estradiol change was somewhat associated with premenstrual mood and behavior changes.

## What it means for you

Hormonal patterns, especially how quickly hormones drop, may trigger premenstrual mood and behavior changes. The delay between hormone and mood changes suggests other biological processes are involved. This was a very small study, so more research is needed.

17

women studied

4-7 days

time lag between hormone and mood change

## About the study

Original title Premenstrual changes and changes in gonadal hormones Authors Halbreich U, Endicott J, Goldstein S et al. Journal Acta psychiatrica Scandinavica Year 1986 Study design Survey study Participants 17 What was tested None - hormone and symptom tracking Read the paper [doi.org/10.1111/j.1600-0447.1986.tb06287.x](https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1600-0447.1986.tb06287.x)

## Topics

[Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pms/)[Menstrual cycle and mood](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-cycle-mood/)

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