Survey study, 1975
Is there a link between estrogen and progesterone levels and PMS symptoms?
There was a significant link between estrogen levels and anxiety, irritability, and depression symptoms, but no clear link with progesterone levels. This is a very small early study, so we cannot be very sure.
What they did
Cross-sectional study of 15 women with premenstrual tension. Researchers rated their symptoms in four groups: anxiety-tension, asthenia-depression, irritability-explosiveness, and feelings of swelling. They then measured estrogen and progesterone levels in blood plasma and correlated them with symptom ratings.
What they found
There was a significant correlation between estrogen levels and anxiety, irritability, anxiety plus irritability combined, and depression groups. A correlation was also found between the estrogen to progesterone ratio and anxiety. No significant correlation was found between progesterone levels alone and symptom ratings.
What it means for you
Estrogen levels may be linked to some PMS symptoms like anxiety and irritability. The main limitation is the very small sample size of 15 women, which makes it hard to generalize to other women.
15
women with premenstrual tension
4
symptom groups studied
About the study
- Original title
- Correlation of symptoms in pre-menstrual tension to oestrogen and progesterone concentrations in blood plasma. A preliminary study
- Authors
- Bäckström T, Mattsson B
- Journal
- Neuropsychobiology
- Year
- 1975
- Study design
- Survey study
- Participants
- 15
- What was tested
- None; this was observational research
- Read the paper
- doi.org/10.1159/000117480
Topics
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