Study, 2003
Does the stress response system work differently in women with PMS across the menstrual cycle?
Women with PMS failed to show the normal increased stress hormone response during the luteal phase that women without PMS show. Progesterone, not estrogen, appears to control this stress response.
What they did
Researchers conducted two studies using treadmill exercise tests to measure the stress hormone response (HPA axis) in women with PMS and control women. They tested the response at different menstrual cycle phases and examined the roles of progesterone and estradiol.
What they found
Women with PMS failed to show the normal increased stress hormone response to exercise during the luteal phase. In control women, progesterone caused increased stress hormone response to treadmill stress, but estradiol did not. Women with PMS did not show the stress hormone abnormalities typical of major depression.
What it means for you
Women with PMS may have an abnormal response to progesterone that disrupts their stress response system during the luteal phase. This is different from depression, even though both involve mood changes. The findings suggest PMS involves a specific problem with progesterone response rather than a general mood disorder pattern.
2
studies conducted
About the study
- Original title
- Differential menstrual cycle regulation of hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis in women with premenstrual syndrome and controls
- Authors
- Roca CA, Schmidt PJ, Altemus M et al.
- Journal
- The Journal of clinical endocrinology and metabolism
- Year
- 2003
- Study design
- Study
- Read the paper
- doi.org/10.1210/jc.2002-021570
Topics
Related studies
Review, 2002
Are hormone problems the cause of PMS?
Cohort study, 2022
What are PMS and PMDD and how should they be diagnosed and treated?
Review, 2012
Is depression linked to hormonal changes during the menstrual cycle, pregnancy, and menopause?
Randomised trial, 2017
Does yoga help with PMS symptoms?
Cohort study, 1992
What role do hormones play in mood problems linked to the menstrual cycle?
Review, 2015
What do we know about PMS and PMDD and how are they treated?