Non-randomised trial, 2006
Do women with PMDD respond differently to estrogen?
Yes. Women with PMDD showed a different response to an estrogen injection, with stronger hormone surges linked to bloating and irritability.
What they did
Researchers gave an estrogen injection to 13 women with PMDD and 12 healthy women early in their cycle. They drew blood multiple times over the next 6 days to measure hormone levels.
What they found
Both groups had similar estrogen and FSH responses, but women with PMDD had higher LH (another hormone) responses, including more surge-like reactions and levels 50% higher overall. The strength of the LH response was linked to bloating, and hormone patterns were connected to irritability and depressed mood.
What it means for you
Women with PMDD may have bodies that overreact to the estrogen changes that happen every month. This could explain why their symptoms are more severe. The study was very small, so the findings need to be tested in more women.
13
women with PMDD
12
healthy women
50%
higher LH response in PMDD
About the study
- Original title
- Differential response to estrogen challenge test in women with and without premenstrual dysphoria
- Authors
- Eriksson O, Bäckström T, Stridsberg M et al.
- Journal
- Psychoneuroendocrinology
- Year
- 2006
- Study design
- Non-randomised trial
- Participants
- 13
- What was tested
- Estradiol benzoate injection (0.04 mg/kg) given early in menstrual cycle
- Read the paper
- doi.org/10.1016/j.psyneuen.2005.10.004
Topics
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