--- title: Do women with PMS panic more during a breathing test, and does cycle timing matter? description: Yes. Women with PMS felt more intense panic symptoms during a CO2 breathing challenge, but only in the days just before their period, not earlier in the cycle url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/the-influence-of-the-menstrual-cycle-on-reactivity-to-a-co-2-challenge-among-2017/ --- - [Niyora](https://niyora.com/) - [Research](https://niyora.com/research/) - [Library](https://niyora.com/research/library/) - Do women with PMS panic more during a breathing test, and does cycle timing matter? Case-control study, 2017 # Do women with PMS panic more during a breathing test, and does cycle timing matter? Yes. Women with PMS felt more intense panic symptoms during a CO2 breathing challenge, but only in the days just before their period, not earlier in the cycle. Early or limited evidence 37 women total: 11 with clinically significant PMS and 26 without PMS. ## What they did Researchers compared 11 women with clinically significant PMS to 26 women without PMS (37 total). Each woman did a CO2 (carbon dioxide) breathing challenge, which is a standard lab test that can trigger panic-like symptoms, during two points in their cycle: the late follicular phase (days 6-12) and the premenstrual phase (within 5 days before their period). ## What they found During the late follicular phase, women with and without PMS responded to the CO2 challenge in a similar way. During the premenstrual phase, women with PMS reported significantly more intense panic symptoms in response to the challenge than women without PMS. ## What it means for you This suggests that the extra sensitivity to panic-triggering sensations seen in PMS may be specific to the premenstrual phase rather than a constant trait. The study is small (only 11 women with PMS) and used a lab challenge rather than real-life symptoms, so results may not generalize widely. 37 Total participants 11 Women with PMS 26 Women without PMS ## About the study Original title The influence of the menstrual cycle on reactivity to a CO 2 challenge among women with and without premenstrual symptoms Authors Nillni YI, Pineles SL, Rohan KJ et al. Journal Cognitive behaviour therapy Year 2017 Study design Case-control study Participants 37 What was tested CO2 (carbon dioxide) biological challenge test, done in two different menstrual cycle phases. Open access Yes Read the paper [doi.org/10.1080/16506073.2016.1236286](https://doi.org/10.1080/16506073.2016.1236286) ## Topics [Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pms/)[Anxiety and tension](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-anxiety/)[Major depressive disorder](https://niyora.com/research/topics/comorbidity-major-depression/)[Anxiety disorders and OCD](https://niyora.com/research/topics/comorbidity-anxiety-disorders/) 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 Non-randomised trial, 2008 Can the Sheehan Disability Scale measure whether treatments work? Study, 2026 Do anxiety and depression get worse before your period if you already have a mental health condition? Study, 2026 What are premenstrual syndrome and premenstrual dysphoric disorder? Cohort study, 2023 Are premenstrual disorders linked to depression, anxiety, and self-harm in teenage girls? Cohort study, 2015 What factors predict anxiety and depression during pregnancy and after birth? Review, 2014 Are mental health problems linked to gynecological conditions like PMS and PMDD? Ask AI about this page Copy prompt ChatGPT ↗ Claude ↗ Perplexity ↗ Google AI Mode ↗ Grok ↗