---
title: Does removing the uterus reduce PMS symptoms? | Niyora
description: Yes. Removing the uterus resulted in a 66% reduction in premenstrual symptoms. However, one woman still had mood symptoms after surgery, suggesting the uterus
url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/the-premenstrual-syndrome-amelioration-of-symptoms-after-hysterectomy-1992/
---

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- Does removing the uterus reduce PMS symptoms?

Survey study, 1992

# Does removing the uterus reduce PMS symptoms?

Yes. Removing the uterus resulted in a 66% reduction in premenstrual symptoms. However, one woman still had mood symptoms after surgery, suggesting the uterus is not the only factor involved.

 Early or limited evidence

12 women undergoing hysterectomy

## What they did

Twelve women kept detailed daily symptom records before and after hysterectomy. Researchers analyzed symptom patterns mathematically to see how the surgery affected them.

## What they found

Hysterectomy was associated with 66% reduction in mean premenstrual tension severity for both mood and physical symptoms (p less than 0.005). The improvement was unrelated to post-operative changes in health or ovarian function. Seven women had mood-related PMS before surgery. One continued to have mood-related PMS after hysterectomy. The other six women no longer showed a regular pattern of mood-related PMS after surgery.

## What it means for you

The uterus plays a role in PMS but is not essential for it to occur. Removing it helped most women, but the improvement was not simply because hormonal cycling stopped. The uterus itself, or psychological factors connected to having periods, may be important. This is a small study.

12

women studied

66%

reduction in premenstrual tension severity

6

women who lost PMS pattern after surgery

## About the study

Original title The premenstrual syndrome: amelioration of symptoms after hysterectomy Authors Metcalf MG, Braiden V, Livesey JH et al. Journal Journal of psychosomatic research Year 1992 Study design Survey study What was tested Hysterectomy (surgical removal of uterus) Read the paper [doi.org/10.1016/0022-3999(92)90042-z](https://doi.org/10.1016/0022-3999(92)90042-z)

## Topics

[Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pms/)[Menstrual cycle and mood](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-cycle-mood/)[GnRH agonists and ovarian suppression](https://niyora.com/research/topics/treatment-gnrh/)[Surgical menopause](https://niyora.com/research/topics/treatment-surgery/)

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