--- title: Are PMS symptoms connected to steroid hormone levels? | Niyora description: Women with PMS had higher estradiol and lower progesterone than control women. Symptom peaks occurred 1 day after pregnenolone sulfate peaked or 3 to 4 days a url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/relationship-between-symptom-severity-and-steroid-variation-in-women-with-1996/ --- - [Niyora](https://niyora.com/) - [Research](https://niyora.com/research/) - [Library](https://niyora.com/research/library/) - Are PMS symptoms connected to steroid hormone levels? Survey study, 1996 # Are PMS symptoms connected to steroid hormone levels? Women with PMS had higher estradiol and lower progesterone than control women. Symptom peaks occurred 1 day after pregnenolone sulfate peaked or 3 to 4 days after other steroid peaks. Higher luteal estradiol and certain other steroids related to worse symptoms. Early or limited evidence 12 women with PMS and 8 control women ## What they did Researchers took daily blood samples from 12 women with PMS over two menstrual cycles and from 8 control women over one cycle. They measured multiple steroid hormones including pregnenolone, pregnenolone sulfate, and related compounds, and tracked symptoms daily. ## What they found PMS patients had higher estradiol and lower progesterone than controls. All steroid hormones measured cycled with the menstrual cycle. Symptom peaks appeared 1 day after pregnenolone sulfate peaked, but 3 to 4 days after other steroid peaks. In cycles with higher luteal estradiol, pregnenolone, and pregnenolone sulfate, women had more negative symptoms. Higher levels of other steroids (5 alpha-DHP and 5 alpha-THP) were associated with improved symptoms. ## What it means for you Several steroid hormones appear connected to PMS symptom severity, suggesting hormones play a role in who develops PMS and how severe their symptoms are. Different hormones peak at different times relative to symptom peaks. This is preliminary research with a very small sample, so these findings need confirmation in larger studies. 12 PMS patients studied 8 control women 3-4 days delay of symptom peak after most hormone peaks ## About the study Original title Relationship between symptom severity and steroid variation in women with premenstrual syndrome: study on serum pregnenolone, pregnenolone sulfate, 5 alpha-pregnane-3,20-dione and 3 alpha-hydroxy-5 alpha-pregnan-20-one Authors Wang M, Seippel L, Purdy RH et al. Journal The Journal of clinical endocrinology and metabolism Year 1996 Study design Survey study Participants 12 What was tested Measurement of hormone levels (observational; no treatment tested) Read the paper [doi.org/10.1210/jcem.81.3.8772579](https://doi.org/10.1210/jcem.81.3.8772579) ## Topics [Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pms/)[Cognition, concentration and memory](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-cognition/)[Pregnancy and postpartum](https://niyora.com/research/topics/comorbidity-postpartum/)[Relationships and partners](https://niyora.com/research/topics/life-area-relationships/) 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 Case-control study, 2013 Are stress hormones different in women with PMDD? Survey study, 1991 How do stress hormones affect the menstrual cycle and PMS? Cohort study, 2025 Is there a link between premenstrual disorders and autoimmune disease? Cohort study, 2023 Is PMDD a valid medical diagnosis? Cohort study, 2021 Are low antioxidant vitamins or high oxidative stress linked to premenstrual syndrome? Review, 2003 How do menstrual cycle hormones affect the brain and cause mood disorders like PMDD? Ask AI about this page Copy prompt ChatGPT ↗ Claude ↗ Perplexity ↗ Google AI Mode ↗ Grok ↗