Case-control study, 1985
Do women with PMS show different hormone patterns and ovulation timing after the corpus luteum is removed?
Yes. Women with PMS took longer to ovulate after corpus luteum removal (21 days versus 19 days in controls) and had lower FSH levels, suggesting their hormonal feedback system is more sensitive.
What they did
7 women with PMS and 7 control women underwent hysterectomy with removal of the corpus luteum during the middle of the luteal phase. Hormone levels were measured afterward to track ovulation timing.
What they found
Before surgery, women with PMS had lower progesterone and FSH but slightly higher estradiol. After corpus luteum removal, women with PMS took 21 days to ovulate (range 18-24) compared to 19 days in controls (range 14-20) (p<0.01). The FSH rise was delayed in PMS women and FSH levels were significantly lower during the late follicular phase, but estradiol levels did not differ between groups.
What it means for you
Women with PMS may have a more sensitive hormonal feedback system that suppresses FSH more than normal, even though estrogen levels are normal. This could be one biological cause of PMS. The study is very limited by its small sample size and the surgical nature of the intervention.
21
Days to ovulation in PMS women
19
Days to ovulation in controls
7
Women per group
About the study
- Original title
- Prolonged follicular phase and depressed gonadotrophins following hysterectomy and corpus lute-ectomy in women with premenstrual tension syndrome
- Authors
- Bäckström T, Smith S, Lothian H et al.
- Journal
- Clinical endocrinology
- Year
- 1985
- Study design
- Case-control study
- What was tested
- Removal of the corpus luteum during surgery
- Read the paper
- doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2265.1985.tb00162.x
Topics
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