---
title: Do GABA receptors and progesterone affect PMDD? | Niyora
description: The review suggests they may be important based on animal studies, but does not provide specific conclusions about their role in PMDD in humans.
url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/gaba-receptors-progesterone-and-premenstrual-dysphoric-disorder-2003/
---

- [Niyora](https://niyora.com/)
- [Research](https://niyora.com/research/)
- [Library](https://niyora.com/research/library/)
- Do GABA receptors and progesterone affect PMDD?

Review, 2003

# Do GABA receptors and progesterone affect PMDD?

The review suggests they may be important based on animal studies, but does not provide specific conclusions about their role in PMDD in humans.

 Moderate study design

Review article (no specific study population)

## What they did

Review of animal models of depression and anxiety, and human clinical studies examining how neuroactive steroid hormones and GABA receptors relate to PMDD.

## What they found

Animal models indicate that neuroactive steroid hormones and GABA receptors are important in mood disorders. The review discusses these findings in relation to human PMDD.

## What it means for you

A brain chemical called GABA and the hormone progesterone may play a role in PMDD based on animal research, but the abstract does not provide specific evidence or conclusions. More research in humans is needed.

## About the study

Original title GABA receptors, progesterone and premenstrual dysphoric disorder Authors Sundström Poromaa I, Smith S, Gulinello M Journal Archives of women's mental health Year 2003 Study design Review What was tested None (review article) Read the paper [doi.org/10.1007/s00737-002-0147-1](https://doi.org/10.1007/s00737-002-0147-1)

## Topics

[Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pms/)[Premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pmdd/)[Menstrual cycle and mood](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-cycle-mood/)[Low mood and depression](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-depression-mood/)[Anxiety and tension](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-anxiety/)[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, 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?

Systematic review, 2026

Why do some women experience mood changes linked to their menstrual cycle?

Cohort study, 2025

Do women with a history of PMS or PMDD have more depression during pregnancy and after birth?

Survey study, 2022

What causes PMS and PMDD and what new treatments are being studied?

Review, 2003

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

Ask AI about this page

Copy prompt

ChatGPT

↗

Claude

↗

Perplexity

↗

Google AI Mode

↗

Grok

↗