--- title: Are hormone-related chemicals different in women with mood disorders during the menstrual cycle? description: Women with bipolar disorder and major depression had higher levels of progesterone and a related chemical (3alpha,5alpha-THPROG) during the luteal phase compa url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/increased-neuroactive-steroid-concentrations-in-women-with-bipolar-disorder-or-2006/ --- - [Niyora](https://niyora.com/) - [Research](https://niyora.com/research/) - [Library](https://niyora.com/research/library/) - Are hormone-related chemicals different in women with mood disorders during the menstrual cycle? Case-control study, 2006 # Are hormone-related chemicals different in women with mood disorders during the menstrual cycle? Women with bipolar disorder and major depression had higher levels of progesterone and a related chemical (3alpha,5alpha-THPROG) during the luteal phase compared to healthy women. This difference was present whether or not they were taking medication. Moderate study design 17 women with bipolar disorder, 14 women with major depression, 16 healthy controls ## What they did Case-control study measuring blood steroid (hormone-like chemical) levels during the luteal phase in 17 women with bipolar disorder, 14 women with major depression, and 16 healthy controls. All patients were stable without recent mood episodes. ## What they found Progesterone and 3alpha,5alpha-THPROG levels were significantly higher in women with bipolar disorder and major depression than in controls, with bipolar disorder patients having the highest levels. These differences were not explained by medication use or other psychiatric conditions. ## What it means for you Women with mood disorders may process reproductive hormones differently during their menstrual cycle, even when their symptoms are well controlled. Limitations include small sample size and measurements only during one phase of the cycle. 17 women with bipolar disorder 14 women with major depression 16 control women ## About the study Original title Increased neuroactive steroid concentrations in women with bipolar disorder or major depressive disorder Authors Hardoy MC, Serra M, Carta MG et al. Journal Journal of clinical psychopharmacology Year 2006 Study design Case-control study Participants 16 What was tested None Read the paper [doi.org/10.1097/01.jcp.0000229483.52955.ec](https://doi.org/10.1097/01.jcp.0000229483.52955.ec) ## Topics [Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pms/)[Menstrual cycle and mood](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-cycle-mood/)[Low mood and depression](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-depression-mood/)[Cognition, concentration and memory](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-cognition/)[Bipolar disorder](https://niyora.com/research/topics/comorbidity-bipolar/)[Major depressive disorder](https://niyora.com/research/topics/comorbidity-major-depression/)[Anxiety disorders and OCD](https://niyora.com/research/topics/comorbidity-anxiety-disorders/)[Eating disorders](https://niyora.com/research/topics/comorbidity-eating-disorders/)[Pregnancy and postpartum](https://niyora.com/research/topics/comorbidity-postpartum/)[Quality of life and daily functioning](https://niyora.com/research/topics/life-area-quality-of-life/) 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 Cohort study, 2010 How do anxiety disorders differ across different life stages? Review, 2005 How does acute tryptophan depletion help us understand mood disorders? Review, 1999 Do SSRI antidepressants work for PMDD? Cohort study, 2023 Are PMS symptoms linked to genetic factors for psychiatric disorders? Study, 2026 Do anxiety and depression get worse before your period if you already have a mental health condition? Study, 2026 What are premenstrual syndrome and premenstrual dysphoric disorder? Ask AI about this page Copy prompt ChatGPT ↗ Claude ↗ Perplexity ↗ Google AI Mode ↗ Grok ↗