Survey study, 1989
Does PMS get worse with higher hormone levels?
Yes, women with PMS have worse symptoms in months when their estradiol and progesterone levels are high. This contradicts the theory that PMS is caused by low progesterone.
What they did
Eighteen women with PMS were tracked for 2 consecutive menstrual cycles. Each day they recorded their symptoms and had blood tests to measure estradiol, progesterone, FSH, and LH.
What they found
Premenstrual symptoms were worse in cycles when estradiol and progesterone were high in the two weeks before menstruation. High estradiol during this time was especially linked to worse symptoms and lower positive mood. Women had more severe PMS in cycles with high estradiol and progesterone. This finding contradicts the idea that progesterone deficiency causes PMS.
What it means for you
PMS may be caused by the body's reaction to high hormone levels, not by lack of progesterone. The main limitations are the small sample of only 18 women and the lack of a comparison group.
18
women studied
2
consecutive cycles tracked
About the study
- Original title
- Relationship between symptom severity and hormone changes in women with premenstrual syndrome
- Authors
- Hammarbäck S, Damber JE, Bäckström T
- Journal
- The Journal of clinical endocrinology and metabolism
- Year
- 1989
- Study design
- Survey study
- Participants
- 18
- What was tested
- None (tracking symptoms and hormones)
- Read the paper
- doi.org/10.1210/jcem-68-1-125
Topics
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