---
title: Are hormone levels different in women with PMS? | Niyora
description: Possibly. Women with PMS had lower ACTH levels during the luteal phase, and different subgroups showed different hormone patterns, suggesting multiple biologi
url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/preliminary-evidence-for-plasma-adrenocorticotropin-levels-as-biological-1993/
---

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- Are hormone levels different in women with PMS?

Case-control study, 1993

# Are hormone levels different in women with PMS?

Possibly. Women with PMS had lower ACTH levels during the luteal phase, and different subgroups showed different hormone patterns, suggesting multiple biological subtypes.

 Early or limited evidence

10 women with premenstrual syndrome and 8 women without symptoms

## What they did

Case-control study of 10 women with PMS and 8 women without symptoms. Blood samples were drawn daily throughout one menstrual cycle, and women reported symptoms daily.

## What they found

ACTH levels were significantly lower in women with PMS compared to controls during the luteal phase. Cluster analysis identified two PMS subgroups. Cluster 1 had significantly lower ACTH compared to controls, while Cluster 2 had ACTH levels nearly identical to controls. These preliminary results suggest distinct hormonal subgroups within the heterogeneous PMS population.

## What it means for you

Women with PMS may fall into different biological subtypes with different hormone patterns. This suggests that treating all PMS identically may not be appropriate. Main limitations: very small sample sizes and preliminary findings requiring further research.

10

women with PMS

8

women without symptoms

## About the study

Original title Preliminary evidence for plasma adrenocorticotropin levels as biological correlates of premenstrual symptoms Authors Redei E, Freeman EW Journal Acta endocrinologica Year 1993 Study design Case-control study Participants 2 What was tested None - observational study Read the paper [doi.org/10.1530/acta.0.1280536](https://doi.org/10.1530/acta.0.1280536)

## 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/)[Stress](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-stress/)

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