Study, 1979
What causes premenstrual syndrome?
PMS likely involves hormonal and chemical changes at multiple levels in the body, including the ovaries and the brain's hormone control system. Both ovarian and brain-level changes contribute to the condition.
What they did
The authors reviewed existing theories about what causes PMS and examined recent research on hormones and chemical changes in women with PMS.
What they found
Hormonal and biochemical changes occur at multiple levels in PMS, involving both ovarian and hypothalamic-pituitary events (the brain's hormone control center). Various theories about the causes of PMS are discussed, and recent endocrine and clinical research is reviewed.
What it means for you
PMS appears to involve complex changes in multiple body systems rather than a single cause. However, this is a review of existing theories and studies, not original research with patients. We don't have new findings here about what actually causes PMS, and the strength of evidence is limited.
About the study
- Original title
- Endocrine and other biochemical factors in the aetiology of the premenstrual syndrome
- Authors
- M. G. Brush
- Journal
- Current Medical Research and Opinion
- Year
- 1979
- Study design
- Study
- What was tested
- None (review of existing theories)
- Read the paper
- doi.org/10.1185/03007997909110094