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Do personality traits affect how severely rats experience PMS-like symptoms when hormones are withdrawn?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.
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
Topics
Related studies
Cohort study, 2026
What genetic factors are linked to premenstrual symptoms?
Review, 2026
How well do SSRIs treat PMS?
Systematic review, 2026
How often do mood disorders and PMS or PMDD occur together?
Systematic review, 2026
Are hormone levels different in women with PMS?
Systematic review, 2026
Does vitamin D supplementation help PMS symptoms?
Study, 2026
How do women with PMDD process emotions differently in their brains?