Study, 1989
Do menstrual cycle hormones cause premenstrual syndrome, and can stopping ovulation help?
Stopping ovulation significantly reduced physical and mood symptoms, suggesting hormones are involved. However, some women still had symptom flare-ups even when hormone levels showed no ovulation, showing the link between hormones and symptoms is more complex than expected.
What they did
11 women with premenstrual problems received monthly injections of goserelin 3.6mg under the skin for up to 6 months. Doctors measured hormone levels twice weekly and women tracked their symptoms daily.
What they found
Physical and psychological symptoms improved significantly during treatment. However, some women still reported swelling and mood changes even though their hormone levels showed they were not ovulating. Three women reported anxiety and/or depression got worse soon after starting treatment (one withdrew from the study). When ovulation returned after treatment ended, symptoms came back to their original levels, though breast discomfort stayed improved.
What it means for you
These results suggest menstrual cycle hormones do affect mood and physical symptoms, but the connection is not simple. Stopping ovulation did not eliminate all symptoms for everyone. The study is limited because it only included 11 women and had no comparison group to measure against.
11
women treated
6
maximum months of treatment
3
women who reported worsened mood symptoms
About the study
- Original title
- Modification of symptoms of the premenstrual syndrome during ovarian suppression with goserelin (Zoladex) depot – potential for research and clinical investigation
- Authors
- Christine P. West, Mary Ann Lumsden, David T. Baird
- Journal
- Journal of Psychosomatic Obstetrics & Gynecology
- Year
- 1989
- Study design
- Study
- What was tested
- Goserelin 3.6mg monthly injections
- Read the paper
- doi.org/10.3109/01674828909016680
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