--- title: Do women with PMDD have lower relaxin hormone levels? | Niyora description: Yes, women with PMDD had lower relaxin levels than healthy women, a clear difference. This is a small study, so we need confirmation. url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/stable-serum-levels-of-relaxin-throughout-the-menstrual-cycle-a-preliminary-2007/ --- - [Niyora](https://niyora.com/) - [Research](https://niyora.com/research/) - [Library](https://niyora.com/research/library/) - Do women with PMDD have lower relaxin hormone levels? Case-control study, 2007 # Do women with PMDD have lower relaxin hormone levels? Yes, women with PMDD had lower relaxin levels than healthy women, a clear difference. This is a small study, so we need confirmation. Early or limited evidence 25 women with PMDD and 25 healthy women of similar age ## What they did Researchers measured relaxin and other hormones in blood at three times during the menstrual cycle (follicular phase, around ovulation, and luteal phase) in 25 women with PMDD and 25 healthy women. ## What they found All women had detectable relaxin in both phases. Changes within each woman were smaller than differences between women. Women with PMDD had lower relaxin than controls. Women with PMDD also showed differences in a genetic region that controls relaxin. ## What it means for you PMDD may be connected to lower relaxin, which stays fairly stable across the cycle in healthy women. The study is small with only a one-time measurement, so results need confirmation in larger groups over longer periods. 25 women with PMDD 25 healthy comparison women 3 measurement times in the cycle ## About the study Original title Stable serum levels of relaxin throughout the menstrual cycle: a preliminary comparison of women with premenstrual dysphoria and controls Authors Pehrsson M, Westberg L, Landén M et al. Journal Archives of women's mental health Year 2007 Study design Case-control study Participants 35 What was tested None Read the paper [doi.org/10.1007/s00737-007-0186-8](https://doi.org/10.1007/s00737-007-0186-8) ## Topics [Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pms/)[Premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pmdd/)[Low mood and depression](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-depression-mood/) Research tells you what helps on average. Niyora helps on the day it hits. Calm down, see it another way, and decide what to say, with a PMS and PMDD app built by a doctor. ## Related studies Cohort study, 2026 What genetic factors are linked to premenstrual symptoms? Systematic review, 2026 How often do mood disorders and PMS or PMDD occur together? Systematic review, 2026 Does vitamin D supplementation help PMS symptoms? Study, 2026 How do women with PMDD process emotions differently in their brains? Systematic review, 2026 Why do some women experience mood changes linked to their menstrual cycle? Systematic review, 2026 How much of PMDD treatment improvement comes from placebo effect? Ask AI about this page Copy prompt ChatGPT ↗ Claude ↗ Perplexity ↗ Google AI Mode ↗ Grok ↗