--- title: Do women with PMDD respond differently to allopregnanolone across the menstrual cycle? description: Yes, women with PMDD show an opposite pattern of brain response to injected allopregnanolone across the cycle compared to healthy women, with stronger effects url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/women-with-premenstrual-dysphoric-disorder-have-altered-sensitivity-to-2016/ --- - [Niyora](https://niyora.com/) - [Research](https://niyora.com/research/) - [Library](https://niyora.com/research/library/) - Do women with PMDD respond differently to allopregnanolone across the menstrual cycle? Case-control study, 2016 # Do women with PMDD respond differently to allopregnanolone across the menstrual cycle? Yes, women with PMDD show an opposite pattern of brain response to injected allopregnanolone across the cycle compared to healthy women, with stronger effects in the luteal phase, suggesting altered sensitivity to this hormone. Early or limited evidence 10 women with PMDD and 10 healthy controls ## What they did Ten women with PMDD and 10 healthy controls received intravenous injections of allopregnanolone (0.05 mg/kg) once during the mid-follicular phase and once during the luteal phase. Eye movement speed was measured before and after injection as a marker of brain GABA receptor activity. ## What they found There was a highly significant group by phase interaction in the eye movement response to allopregnanolone. In PMDD women, eye movement response was decreased in the follicular phase compared to the luteal phase. In controls, the pattern was opposite. This indicates different sensitivity to the hormone across the cycle between groups. ## What it means for you Women with PMDD may have altered sensitivity to allopregnanolone, showing different brain responses depending on cycle phase compared to healthy women. This could explain why PMDD symptoms worsen during the luteal phase, but this is a very small study (20 women) requiring confirmation. 10 women with PMDD 10 healthy controls 0.05 mg/kg allopregnanolone dose ## About the study Original title Women with premenstrual dysphoric disorder have altered sensitivity to allopregnanolone over the menstrual cycle compared to controls-a pilot study Authors Timby E, Bäckström T, Nyberg S et al. Journal Psychopharmacology Year 2016 Study design Case-control study Participants 10 What was tested Intravenous allopregnanolone 0.05 mg/kg during mid-follicular and luteal phases Read the paper [doi.org/10.1007/s00213-016-4258-1](https://doi.org/10.1007/s00213-016-4258-1) ## Topics [Premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pmdd/)[Menstrual cycle and mood](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-cycle-mood/)[Low mood and depression](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-depression-mood/)[Anxiety and tension](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-anxiety/)[Neurosteroids (allopregnanolone)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/treatment-neurosteroids/)[Anxiolytics and other psychotropics](https://niyora.com/research/topics/treatment-anxiolytics/)[Pregnancy and postpartum](https://niyora.com/research/topics/comorbidity-postpartum/) 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 Review, 2003 How do menstrual cycle hormones affect the brain and cause mood disorders like PMDD? Randomised trial, 2017 Does Sepranolone reduce symptoms of severe premenstrual syndrome (PMDD)? Case-control study, 2025 Do certain hormone-related brain chemicals predict how bad premenstrual depression and anxiety will be? Review, 2022 Can blocking a natural brain steroid help PMDD? Randomised trial, 2018 How do progesterone metabolites affect PMDD symptoms? Randomised trial, 2016 Does blocking progesterone conversion help PMDD symptoms? Ask AI about this page Copy prompt ChatGPT ↗ Claude ↗ Perplexity ↗ Google AI Mode ↗ Grok ↗