---
title: Do women with PMS have different hormone levels than women without PMS?
description: Yes. Women with PMS have significantly lower allopregnanolone in the second half of their cycle, plus higher free testosterone and higher DHEA. These hormone
url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/adrenal-response-to-adrenocorticotropic-hormone-stimulation-in-patients-with-2004/
---

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- Do women with PMS have different hormone levels than women without PMS?

Case-control study, 2004

# Do women with PMS have different hormone levels than women without PMS?

Yes. Women with PMS have significantly lower allopregnanolone in the second half of their cycle, plus higher free testosterone and higher DHEA. These hormone differences may explain why they experience mood changes, anxiety, aggression, and irritability.

 Moderate study design

20 women with PMS and 20 healthy fertile women.

## What they did

Researchers measured 9 different hormones in 20 women with PMS and 20 healthy women at different times in their menstrual cycle. They also performed hormone stimulation tests in 10 women from each group.

## What they found

In the second half of the cycle (luteal phase), women with PMS had significantly lower allopregnanolone levels, while progesterone was lower in both phases. They also had higher free testosterone during the luteal phase and higher DHEA levels in both the early and late phases. The adrenal gland's response to hormone stimulation was different in women with PMS.

## What it means for you

The specific pattern of hormones in women with PMS may explain their mood and behavioral symptoms. However, the study is small (20 women per group) and was done in one location, so results may not apply to all women with PMS. More research is needed to confirm these findings.

20

Women with PMS studied

20

Healthy women in comparison group

9

Different hormones measured

## About the study

Original title Adrenal response to adrenocorticotropic hormone stimulation in patients with premenstrual syndrome Authors Lombardi I, Luisi S, Quirici B et al. Journal Gynecological endocrinology : the official journal of the International Society of Gynecological Endocrinology Year 2004 Study design Case-control study Participants 20 What was tested None - this is a comparison study. Read the paper [doi.org/10.1080/09513590310001652955](https://doi.org/10.1080/09513590310001652955)

## Topics

[Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pms/)[Irritability and anger](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-irritability-anger/)[Neurosteroids (allopregnanolone)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/treatment-neurosteroids/)[Pregnancy and postpartum](https://niyora.com/research/topics/comorbidity-postpartum/)

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## Related studies

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