Case-control study, 2003
Does the brain respond differently to progesterone in women with PMS?
Yes. Women with PMS showed abnormal brain responses during the luteal phase, opposite to what happens in women without PMS. This is the first evidence for abnormal brain response to progesterone in PMS.
What they did
Case-control study of 9 women with PMS and 14 control women. Researchers used magnetic stimulation (TMS) of the motor cortex during the follicular and luteal phases to measure how the brain's response changed across the menstrual cycle.
What they found
In the follicular phase, both groups responded the same. In the luteal phase, control women showed more brain inhibition (expected from progesterone). Women with PMS showed relative brain facilitation instead, the opposite pattern.
What it means for you
This suggests PMS involves an abnormal brain response to progesterone rather than abnormal hormone levels. It could help explain how PMS develops. However, the study is very small with only 9 women with PMS, so results need confirmation in larger studies.
9
women with PMS
14
control women
7
stimulus intervals tested
About the study
- Original title
- Abnormal luteal phase excitability of the motor cortex in women with premenstrual syndrome
- Authors
- Smith MJ, Adams LF, Schmidt PJ et al.
- Journal
- Biological psychiatry
- Year
- 2003
- Study design
- Case-control study
- Participants
- 14
- What was tested
- Transcranial magnetic stimulation of motor cortex
- Read the paper
- doi.org/10.1016/s0006-3223(02)01924-8
Topics
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