---
title: Do women with PMS have different brain receptors that change with hormones?
description: No. Receptor density did not differ significantly between women with PMS and controls, and did not change when estradiol or progesterone were given.
url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/effects-of-gonadal-steroids-on-peripheral-benzodiazepine-receptor-density-in-2001/
---

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- Do women with PMS have different brain receptors that change with hormones?

Randomised trial, 2001

# Do women with PMS have different brain receptors that change with hormones?

No. Receptor density did not differ significantly between women with PMS and controls, and did not change when estradiol or progesterone were given.

 Moderate study design

9 women with prospectively confirmed PMS and 9 control women

## What they did

A controlled study with 9 women with PMS and 9 controls. Researchers suppressed hormones using a drug (Lupron), then gave each woman estradiol or progesterone separately, while measuring specific receptors in blood cells.

## What they found

No significant changes in peripheral benzodiazepine receptor density with hormone changes. No differences between PMS and control groups (P equals 0.4 for group comparison and P equals 0.2 for phase effects).

## What it means for you

This specific receptor probably doesn't explain why some women get PMS mood problems. The study was very small with only 9 women per group, which limits how much the findings can be applied to other women.

9

women with PMS

9

control women

P=0.4

no significant difference between groups

## About the study

Original title Effects of gonadal steroids on peripheral benzodiazepine receptor density in women with PMS and controls Authors Daly RC, Schmidt PJ, Davis CL et al. Journal Psychoneuroendocrinology Year 2001 Study design Randomised trial What was tested Pharmacologically controlled hormone states using Lupron, estradiol, and progesterone Read the paper [doi.org/10.1016/s0306-4530(01)00005-1](https://doi.org/10.1016/s0306-4530(01)00005-1)

## Topics

[Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pms/)[GnRH agonists and ovarian suppression](https://niyora.com/research/topics/treatment-gnrh/)[Neurosteroids (allopregnanolone)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/treatment-neurosteroids/)[Anxiolytics and other psychotropics](https://niyora.com/research/topics/treatment-anxiolytics/)

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

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What role do hormones play in PMS and how should we treat it?

Systematic review, 2007

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How do menstrual cycle hormones affect the brain and cause mood disorders like PMDD?

Review, 2002

What treatments work best for PMS and PMDD?

Study, 1997

What medications work best for treating PMS?

Study, 2026

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