---
title: Do personality traits affect how severely rats experience PMS-like symptoms when hormones are withdrawn?
description: Yes, in this animal study. Female rats with risk-taking personalities showed more anxiety-like behavior and lower stress hormones after hormone withdrawal, wh
url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/withdrawal-effects-from-progesterone-and-estradiol-relate-to-individual-risk-2009/
---

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- Do personality traits affect how severely rats experience PMS-like symptoms when hormones are withdrawn?

Survey study, 2009

# Do personality traits affect how severely rats experience PMS-like symptoms when hormones are withdrawn?

Yes, in this animal study. Female rats with risk-taking personalities showed more anxiety-like behavior and lower stress hormones after hormone withdrawal, while cautious rats showed no changes.

 Early or limited evidence

32 female Wistar rats, divided by personality type

## What they did

32 female rats were given either hormones (progesterone and estradiol) or placebo for 6 days. Rats were first tested for personality type, then tested for anxiety after a 24-hour withdrawal period. Blood was collected to measure stress hormones.

## What they found

Rats with risk-taking personalities spent less time in open areas during anxiety testing (suggesting more anxiety) and had lower stress hormone levels after hormone withdrawal compared to controls. Cautious rats showed no changes in behavior or stress hormones.

## What it means for you

This suggests personality traits might influence how individuals respond to hormone changes, potentially explaining why some women experience worse PMS than others. However, this is an animal study and may not apply directly to humans.

32

female rats

6 days

hormone treatment duration

24-hour

withdrawal period before testing

## About the study

Original title Withdrawal effects from progesterone and estradiol relate to individual risk-taking and explorative behavior in female rats Authors Löfgren M, Johansson IM, Meyerson B et al. Journal Physiology & behavior Year 2009 Study design Survey study What was tested Progesterone and estradiol withdrawal Read the paper [doi.org/10.1016/j.physbeh.2008.08.015](https://doi.org/10.1016/j.physbeh.2008.08.015)

## Topics

[Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pms/)[Premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pmdd/)

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