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Case-control study, 1988

Are hormone levels different between women with menstrually related mood disorder and healthy women?

No significant differences were found in hormone levels or patterns between the two groups, suggesting that PMS is not caused by simple hormone deficiency.

Early or limited evidence Women with menstrually related mood disorder and control women (sample size not specified)

What they did

Blood samples were collected across the menstrual cycle from women with menstrually related mood disorder and control women. Multiple hormones were measured.

What they found

No differences were observed between groups in levels or patterns of progesterone, estradiol, FSH, LH, testosterone-estradiol-binding globulin, DHEA sulfate, dihydrotestosterone, prolactin, or cortisol.

What it means for you

PMS does not appear to be caused by abnormal hormone levels alone, which questions some proposed hormone-based treatments. The abstract does not specify the sample size, which is a significant limitation to understanding the study's strength.

2

Diagnostic groups

9

Hormones measured

About the study

Original title
Changes in plasma hormones across the menstrual cycle in patients with menstrually related mood disorder and in control subjects
Authors
Rubinow DR, Hoban MC, Grover GN et al.
Journal
American journal of obstetrics and gynecology
Year
1988
Study design
Case-control study
What was tested
Hormone measurement across menstrual cycle

Topics