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.
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
Topics
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