---
title: What hormone levels are abnormal in women with severe premenstrual tension?
description: Women with severe PMS had lower progesterone levels about 8 days before their period. In a larger study, approximately 30% had higher prolactin and lower prog
url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/hormone-levels-in-severe-premenstrual-tension-1977/
---

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- What hormone levels are abnormal in women with severe premenstrual tension?

Study, 1977

# What hormone levels are abnormal in women with severe premenstrual tension?

Women with severe PMS had lower progesterone levels about 8 days before their period. In a larger study, approximately 30% had higher prolactin and lower progesterone during the second half of their cycle.

 Early or limited evidence

Women with severe premenstrual tension

## What they did

Researchers measured hormone levels in 8 women with severe PMS and 8 women without symptoms, looking at progesterone and aldosterone. They then tracked these hormones plus prolactin in a larger ongoing study of 58 women with severe PMS.

## What they found

The first group showed low progesterone 8 days before the period. In the larger study, approximately 30% of the 58 women had raised prolactin and low progesterone during the second half of their cycle. These women also had shorter menstrual cycles. Aldosterone levels did not show consistent changes.

## What it means for you

Low progesterone and high prolactin may contribute to PMS in some women. However, these changes were only found in about a third of the women studied, and symptoms started earlier than when the progesterone drop was detected, suggesting other factors are also involved. The studies were small and ongoing.

8

women with PMS in first study

58

women with PMS in larger study

~30%

women with raised prolactin and low progesterone

## About the study

Original title Hormone levels in severe premenstrual tension Authors Madeleine R Munday Journal Current Medical Research and Opinion Year 1977 Study design Study Participants 58 What was tested None (observation only) Read the paper [doi.org/10.1185/03007997709115296](https://doi.org/10.1185/03007997709115296)

## Topics

[Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pms/)[Anxiety and tension](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-anxiety/)

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