--- title: Does the nervous system work differently during the menstrual cycle in women with PMS or PMDD? description: Yes. Women with PMS showed decreased automatic body control in the second half of their cycle, and women with PMDD showed decreased body control throughout th url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/altered-autonomic-nervous-system-activity-as-a-potential-etiological-factor-of-2007/ --- - [Niyora](https://niyora.com/) - [Research](https://niyora.com/research/) - [Library](https://niyora.com/research/library/) - Does the nervous system work differently during the menstrual cycle in women with PMS or PMDD? Survey study, 2007 # Does the nervous system work differently during the menstrual cycle in women with PMS or PMDD? Yes. Women with PMS showed decreased automatic body control in the second half of their cycle, and women with PMDD showed decreased body control throughout their cycle compared to women without PMS. Early or limited evidence 62 women aged 20-40 with regular menstrual cycles ## What they did Researchers measured automatic nervous system activity in 62 women across two cycle phases (early and second half) by checking their heart rate patterns and asking them about their symptoms. They grouped women by how severe their symptoms were. ## What they found Women without PMS had no changes in nervous system activity across their cycle. Women with PMS had decreased overall activity in the second half of their cycle. Women with PMDD had much lower activity throughout their entire cycle compared to other women. ## What it means for you How your automatic nervous system works might explain PMS symptoms. The main limit is that this measured women only once per cycle phase, so it cannot prove that changed nervous system activity causes PMS. 62 women studied ## About the study Original title Altered autonomic nervous system activity as a potential etiological factor of premenstrual syndrome and premenstrual dysphoric disorder Authors Matsumoto T, Ushiroyama T, Kimura T et al. Journal BioPsychoSocial medicine Year 2007 Study design Survey study Open access Yes Read the paper [doi.org/10.1186/1751-0759-1-24](https://doi.org/10.1186/1751-0759-1-24) Original abstract Background: Premenstrual syndrome (PMS) encompasses a wide variety of cyclic and recurrent physical, emotional, and behavioral symptoms occurring during the late luteal phase of the menstrual cycle and abating shortly following the beginning of menses. Although PMS is widely recognized, its etiopathogenesis is not yet understood. The present study investigates whether the activity of the autonomic nervous system, which plays a vital role in orchestrating physiological homeostasis within the human body, is altered during the menstrual cycle of women with different degrees of premenstrual symptomatology. Methods: Sixty-two women in their 20s to 40s with regular menstrual cycles participated in this study. All subjects were examined during the follicular and late luteal phases. Cycle phase was determined by the onset of menstruation and oral temperature and was verified by concentrations of ovarian hormones, estrone, and pregnanediol in a urine sample taken early in the morning. Autonomic nervous system activity was assessed by means of heart-rate variability (HRV) power spectral analysis during supine rest. The Menstrual Distress Questionnaire was used to evaluate physical, emotional, and behavioral symptoms accompanying the menstrual cycle of the subjects. The subjects were categorized in three groups, Control, PMS, and premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) groups, depending on the severity of premenstrual symptomatology. Results: No intramenstrual cycle difference in any of the parameters of HRV was found in the Control group, which had no or a small increase in premenstrual symptoms. In contrast, Total power and high frequency power, which reflect overall autonomic and parasympathetic nerve activity, respectively, significantly decreased in the late luteal phase from the follicular phase in the PMS group. As for the PMDD group, which had more severe symptoms premenstrually, heart-rate fluctuation as well as all components of the power spectrum of HRV were markedly decreased regardless of the menstrual cycle compared to those of the other two groups. Conclusion: Several theories have been proposed to explain the underlying mechanisms of PMS with its complex web of bio-psycho-social factors. Although causes and consequences continue to elude, the present study provides intriguing and novel findings that the altered functioning of the autonomic nervous system in the late luteal phase could be associated with diverse psychosomatic and behavioral symptoms appearing premenstrually. In addition, when symptoms become more severe (as seen in women with PMDD), the sympathovagal function might be more depressed regardless of the menstrual cycle. Reproduced under CC-BY. ## Topics [Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pms/)[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/) 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 Randomised trial, 1995 Does fluoxetine help premenstrual dysphoria? Study, 2026 Do anxiety and depression get worse before your period if you already have a mental health condition? Study, 2026 What are premenstrual syndrome and premenstrual dysphoric disorder? Survey study, 2023 Is PMDD diagnosis associated with more severe depression and anxiety and lower well-being? Survey study, 2023 How common are PMS, PMDD, anxiety, and depression in rural adolescent girls? Survey study, 2022 Do stress and rumination increase with PMS severity? Ask AI about this page Copy prompt ChatGPT ↗ Claude ↗ Perplexity ↗ Google AI Mode ↗ Grok ↗