Skip to content

Non-randomised trial, 1994

Are progesterone and its related hormones different in women with PMS?

No. Hormone levels were the same in women with PMS and healthy women. Symptom severity did not depend on these hormone levels.

Early or limited evidence 15 women with PMS and 12 healthy women

What they did

Blood was drawn once during the late luteal phase from 15 women with PMS and 12 healthy control women. Three related hormones (allopregnanolone, pregnanolone, and progesterone) were measured and compared.

What they found

Allopregnanolone, pregnanolone, and progesterone levels did not differ significantly between women with PMS and controls. How severe women's mood and behavioral symptoms were did not depend on these hormone levels.

What it means for you

PMS symptoms are probably not caused by too little progesterone or its related hormones. The main limit is that blood was drawn at only one time point and the sample was small.

15

women with PMS

12

healthy women

About the study

Original title
Circulating levels of anxiolytic steroids in the luteal phase in women with premenstrual syndrome and in control subjects
Authors
Schmidt PJ, Purdy RH, Moore PH Jr et al.
Journal
The Journal of clinical endocrinology and metabolism
Year
1994
Study design
Non-randomised trial
Participants
15
What was tested
None. Hormone levels were measured.

Topics