Lab study, 2011
Are certain brain-affecting hormones linked to mood changes during the menstrual cycle?
Yes. A specific type of hormone (7-hydroxylated metabolites of dehydroepiandrosterone) is significantly lower during the high-hormone luteal phase, which may be linked to mood and thinking changes that happen during this phase.
What they did
Twenty-two healthy women with regular menstrual cycles had blood tests during two phases - the low-hormone follicular phase and the high-hormone luteal phase. Researchers measured specific types of dehydroepiandrosterone that affect brain chemistry and mood.
What they found
The main hormone dehydroepiandrosterone did not change between cycle phases. However, a specific type of it (7-hydroxylated metabolites) was significantly lower in the luteal phase than the follicular phase. Another related metabolite tested did not change.
What it means for you
Lower levels of these specific hormones in the luteal phase may help explain why some women experience mood changes and thinking problems during this phase. This is a first step toward understanding the chemical cause. The main limitation is this is a small study of healthy women without any mood symptoms, so we don't know if the same pattern happens in women with PMS or PMDD.
22
women studied
2
menstrual cycle phases tested
About the study
- Original title
- 7-hydroxylated derivatives of dehydroepiandrosterone as possibly related to menstrual mood change in healthy women
- Authors
- Duskova M, Simunkova K, Hill M et al.
- Journal
- Endocrine regulations
- Year
- 2011
- Study design
- Lab study
- Participants
- 22
- What was tested
- None
- Read the paper
- doi.org/10.4149/endo_2011_03_131
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