Cohort study, 2008
Do women with PMDD have different hormone levels than women without it?
The total amount of estradiol is not different, but women with PMDD have less free estradiol available (the active form) and higher levels of a hormone-binding protein. These are significant findings but cannot prove they cause PMDD.
What they did
Researchers measured estradiol and other sex hormones across the menstrual cycle in women with PMDD and women without it. Each woman was screened for 2 months and had hormone levels tested for 1 month.
What they found
Women with PMDD had significantly lower free estradiol overall (1.39 vs 1.50, p=0.03) and during the luteal phase (7.6 vs 8.9 pmol/liter, p=0.032). They had significantly higher SHBG, a protein that binds hormones (61.4 vs 52.4 nmol/liter, p=0.046). Total levels of LH, progesterone, and estradiol were not different.
What it means for you
The results suggest the problem with PMDD might not be how much total hormone is present, but how much is free and active in the body. However, the study does not explain why this difference develops, and the total number of women studied was not stated in the abstract.
1.39 vs 1.50
Free estradiol percentage in PMDD vs control
61.4 vs 52.4
SHBG in PMDD vs control (nmol/liter)
7.6 vs 8.9
Free estradiol luteal phase (pmol/liter)
About the study
- Original title
- Differences in free estradiol and sex hormone-binding globulin in women with and without premenstrual dysphoric disorder
- Authors
- Thys-Jacobs S, McMahon D, Bilezikian JP
- Journal
- The Journal of clinical endocrinology and metabolism
- Year
- 2008
- Study design
- Cohort study
- What was tested
- None (observational study)
- Open access
- Yes
- Read the paper
- doi.org/10.1210/jc.2007-1726
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