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Survey study, 2008

Are sex hormones different in women with PMS?

Women with PMS had more cells that respond to progesterone in their leg vein tissue compared to women without PMS. Cells responding to estrogen were the same in both groups.

Early or limited evidence 50 women undergoing varicose vein surgery (20 with PMS, 30 without)

What they did

Doctors compared tissue samples from leg veins in 20 women with PMS and 30 women without PMS, all taken during varicose vein surgery. They examined the tissue under a microscope using special staining to count how many muscle cells contained receptors for estrogen and progesterone.

What they found

Muscle cells with progesterone receptors were more abundant in women with PMS (343) than in women without PMS (240). There was no difference in estrogen receptors between the two groups.

What it means for you

The number of cells that can respond to progesterone, rather than the hormone levels themselves, may play a role in PMS. However, this is a small study looking only at leg vein tissue, which may not represent the whole body or tissues most involved in PMS symptoms.

20

Women with PMS

343

Progesterone receptors in PMS group

240

Receptors in non-PMS group

About the study

Original title
Sex hormone receptors in varicose veins of women with premenstrual syndrome
Authors
Łukasz Dzieciuchowicz, Małgorzata Kotwicka, M. Gabriel et al.
Journal
Phlebologie
Year
2008
Study design
Survey study
Participants
50
What was tested
None - tissue comparison study

Topics