--- title: Does estrogen and progesterone around the period help with suicidal thoughts? description: In 26 women with suicidal thoughts, giving estrogen and progesterone before the period changed some brain chemicals that may relate to suicide risk. This is v url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/effects-of-estrogen-and-progesterone-on-neuroactive-steroids-and-cytokines-in-2023/ --- - [Niyora](https://niyora.com/) - [Research](https://niyora.com/research/) - [Library](https://niyora.com/research/library/) - Does estrogen and progesterone around the period help with suicidal thoughts? Randomised trial, 2023 # Does estrogen and progesterone around the period help with suicidal thoughts? In 26 women with suicidal thoughts, giving estrogen and progesterone before the period changed some brain chemicals that may relate to suicide risk. This is very early research with a small sample, so we cannot be sure yet. Moderate study design 26 psychiatric outpatients with natural menstrual cycles and suicidal thoughts in the past month ## What they did A crossover RCT where 26 psychiatric outpatients with recent suicidal thoughts received either hormones or placebo at different points in their menstrual cycle. Blood samples were taken 3 times per cycle and tested for brain chemicals and immune markers. ## What they found Progesterone-derived brain chemicals increased when women took the hormone treatment. Other brain-related chemicals decreased with treatment. Immune markers in the blood did not follow a monthly pattern but each one predicted suicidal thoughts, depressed mood, or anxiety. ## What it means for you This research helps explain why suicidal thoughts sometimes get worse around the period in some women with psychiatric illness. However this is a small exploratory study, so larger studies are needed to know if hormone treatment would actually help. The findings describe patterns in 10 different biomarkers measured during the menstrual cycle. 26 women with suicidal thoughts 3 blood draws per menstrual cycle 10 biomarkers studied ## About the study Original title Effects of estrogen and progesterone on neuroactive steroids and cytokines in patients with suicidality Authors Barone JC, Wenzel E, Alluri V et al. Journal Psychoneuroendocrinology Year 2023 Study design Randomised trial What was tested Perimenstrual (around period) administration of estradiol and progesterone versus placebo Open access Yes Read the paper [doi.org/10.1016/j.psyneuen.2023.106359](https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psyneuen.2023.106359) ## Topics [Menstrual cycle and mood](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-cycle-mood/)[Low mood and depression](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-depression-mood/)[Suicidality](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-suicidality/)[SSRIs and antidepressants](https://niyora.com/research/topics/treatment-ssri/)[Neurosteroids (allopregnanolone)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/treatment-neurosteroids/)[Pregnancy and postpartum](https://niyora.com/research/topics/comorbidity-postpartum/) Research tells you what helps on average. Niyora helps on the day it hits. Calm down, see it another way, and decide what to say, with a PMS and PMDD app built by a doctor. ## Related studies Randomised trial, 2024 Does sertraline change brain chemicals in people with PMDD, and does this relate to symptom improvement? Randomised trial, 2017 Does Sepranolone reduce symptoms of severe premenstrual syndrome (PMDD)? Case-control study, 2025 Do certain hormone-related brain chemicals predict how bad premenstrual depression and anxiety will be? Non-randomised trial, 2024 Does luteal phase sertraline treatment affect stress hormones and inflammation in PMDD? Randomised trial, 2023 Does a smartphone app for heart rate variability biofeedback reduce premenstrual and depressive symptoms? Study, 2022 Why do women get PMS and PMDD? Ask AI about this page Copy prompt ChatGPT ↗ Claude ↗ Perplexity ↗ Google AI Mode ↗ Grok ↗