Survey study, 1998
Are PMS symptoms connected to hormone levels?
High levels of estradiol and LH in the phase after ovulation were linked to more severe PMS symptoms. Symptoms develop after ovulation and disappear within 4 days of menstruation starting.
What they did
30 women with PMS rated their physical and mood symptoms every evening using a standard scale. Researchers took daily blood samples during the phase after ovulation and most of the phase before ovulation to measure estradiol, progesterone, FSH, and LH.
What they found
High concentrations of estradiol and LH during the phase after ovulation were related to more severe negative premenstrual symptoms. The pattern of symptoms during the menstrual cycle was similar between women with high and low hormone levels, but the severity of symptoms differed.
What it means for you
For women with PMS, higher estradiol levels after ovulation may intensify symptoms. This suggests hormones play a role in how severe your symptoms are, though the exact mechanism is unclear. The study is small and the relationship doesn't explain all cases of PMS.
30
women with PMS studied
4 days
time for symptoms to disappear after menstruation starts
About the study
- Original title
- Luteal-phase estradiol relates to symptom severity in patients with premenstrual syndrome
- Authors
- Seippel L, Bäckström T
- Journal
- The Journal of clinical endocrinology and metabolism
- Year
- 1998
- Study design
- Survey study
- Participants
- 30
- What was tested
- Measurement of hormone levels (observational; no treatment tested)
- Read the paper
- doi.org/10.1210/jcem.83.6.4899
Topics
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