---
title: What causes dizziness and vertigo in the week before a period?
description: The study found signs of abnormal inner ear function rather than just brain swelling. Swelling in the inner ear may be involved in causing dizziness.
url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/a-study-of-vertigo-and-dizziness-in-the-premenstrual-period-1984/
---

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- What causes dizziness and vertigo in the week before a period?

Study, 1984

# What causes dizziness and vertigo in the week before a period?

The study found signs of abnormal inner ear function rather than just brain swelling. Swelling in the inner ear may be involved in causing dizziness.

 Early or limited evidence

25 women with nausea, vomiting, vertigo or dizziness in the premenstrual period.

## What they did

Researchers examined 25 women who experienced nausea, vomiting, vertigo, or dizziness in the premenstrual period. They tested eye movements and inner ear function in the week before menstruation and during the menstrual week.

## What they found

In the week before menstruation, 4 women had spontaneous eye movements, 6 had abnormal eye movements with position changes, and 9 showed abnormal inner ear responses. Most showed no abnormality during the menstrual week. Tests indicated the problem was in the inner ear (in 7 cases) rather than the brain (in 2 cases).

## What it means for you

Dizziness before a period may be caused by swelling in the inner ear rather than brain swelling alone. The main limitation is the small sample of 25 women who already had these symptoms, so it is not clear how common this pattern is in all women with PMS.

25

women examined

4

had spontaneous eye movements

9

had abnormal inner ear responses

## About the study

Original title A study of vertigo and dizziness in the premenstrual period Authors Abdel Nabi EA, Motawee E, Lasheen N et al. Journal The Journal of laryngology and otology Year 1984 Study design Study What was tested None. Read the paper [doi.org/10.1017/s0022215100146559](https://doi.org/10.1017/s0022215100146559)

## Topics

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

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