---
title: How do stress and stress chemicals relate to premenstrual symptoms?
description: Stress and stress-related chemicals in the body are linked to premenstrual mood and fluid retention symptoms, but the relationships differ depending on whethe
url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/luteal-phase-ovarian-steroids-stress-arousal-premenses-perceived-stress-and-1998/
---

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- How do stress and stress chemicals relate to premenstrual symptoms?

Study, 1998

# How do stress and stress chemicals relate to premenstrual symptoms?

Stress and stress-related chemicals in the body are linked to premenstrual mood and fluid retention symptoms, but the relationships differ depending on whether a woman has PMS or premenstrual magnification.

 Moderate study design

74 women with low symptom severity, PMS, or premenstrual magnification

## What they did

74 women with low symptom severity, PMS, or premenstrual magnification collected urine samples daily over one menstrual cycle. They also recorded their daily symptoms and stress levels.

## What they found

In women with PMS, stress predicted mood symptoms and higher cortisol in the luteal phase predicted fluid retention. In women with premenstrual magnification, lower norepinephrine, higher stress, and a slower drop in estradiol predicted mood symptoms, while norepinephrine, epinephrine, and stress predicted fluid retention.

## What it means for you

Stress and stress chemicals are connected to premenstrual symptoms, but differently depending on a woman's symptom pattern. This suggests treatments might need to target different hormonal and stress factors for different women.

74

women in the study

## About the study

Original title Luteal phase ovarian steroids, stress arousal, premenses perceived stress, and premenstrual symptoms Authors Woods NF, Lentz MJ, Mitchell ES et al. Journal Research in nursing & health Year 1998 Study design Study Participants 74 Read the paper [doi.org/10.1002/(sici)1098-240x(199804)21:2 3.0.co;2-l](https://doi.org/10.1002/(sici)1098-240x(199804)21:2 3.0.co;2-l)

## Topics

[Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pms/)[Premenstrual exacerbation (PME)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pme/)[Stress](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-stress/)[Pregnancy and postpartum](https://niyora.com/research/topics/comorbidity-postpartum/)[Relationships and partners](https://niyora.com/research/topics/life-area-relationships/)

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