--- title: Is the nerve system activity different in women with premenstrual symptoms? description: In women with increased premenstrual symptoms, the fight-or-flight part of the nerve system became more active and the calming part became less active during url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/autonomic-nervous-system-activity-in-the-late-luteal-phase-of-eumenorrheic-women-2006/ --- - [Niyora](https://niyora.com/) - [Research](https://niyora.com/research/) - [Library](https://niyora.com/research/library/) - Is the nerve system activity different in women with premenstrual symptoms? Study, 2006 # Is the nerve system activity different in women with premenstrual symptoms? In women with increased premenstrual symptoms, the fight-or-flight part of the nerve system became more active and the calming part became less active during the late premenstrual phase. This change in nerve balance may contribute to premenstrual symptoms. Moderate study design 30 young women with regular menstrual cycles and premenstrual symptoms. ## What they did Thirty young women with regular periods were measured during two phases: the beginning of the cycle (follicular phase) and the late premenstrual phase (late luteal phase). Doctors measured nerve system activity by analyzing heart rate patterns. ## What they found Women with no or few premenstrual symptoms showed no change in nerve system activity between the two phases. Women whose premenstrual symptoms increased by more than 20% compared to their symptom-free phase showed increased fight-or-flight activity and decreased calming activity in the late luteal phase. Women with more severe premenstrual distress had higher fight-or-flight activity and lower calming activity than women with milder symptoms. Nerve system activity in the early cycle was the same in all women regardless of premenstrual symptoms. ## What it means for you Changes in nerve system balance during the late premenstrual phase may explain why some women experience more severe premenstrual symptoms. This could eventually lead to new treatments targeting the nerve system. However, this study was small (30 women) and only measured nerve system activity, not whether changing it would reduce symptoms. 30 young women studied >20% increase in symptoms in the middle group 2 menstrual cycle phases measured ## About the study Original title Autonomic nervous system activity in the late luteal phase of eumenorrheic women with premenstrual symptomatology Authors Matsumoto T, Ushiroyama T, Morimura M et al. Journal Journal of psychosomatic obstetrics and gynaecology Year 2006 Study design Study What was tested No intervention. This was an observational measurement study. Read the paper [doi.org/10.1080/01674820500490218](https://doi.org/10.1080/01674820500490218) ## Topics [Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pms/)[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, 2026 Does Kundalini Reiki help reduce PMS symptoms and improve quality of life? Randomised trial, 2026 Does calcium and vitamin D supplementation reduce PMS symptoms? Randomised trial, 2026 Does aerobic or resistance exercise reduce anxiety in women with PMS? Systematic review, 2026 Does vitamin D supplementation help PMS symptoms? Systematic review, 2026 Do mindfulness and relaxation techniques help with PMS symptoms? Cohort study, 2025 Do women with PMS or PMDD report lower quality of life than women without these conditions? Ask AI about this page Copy prompt ChatGPT ↗ Claude ↗ Perplexity ↗ Google AI Mode ↗ Grok ↗