Case report, 2006
Can overbreathing (hyperventilation) cause PMS?
In 3 women with severe PMS, a pronounced drop in carbon dioxide levels in the blood happened during the luteal phase alongside their PMS symptoms. When a hormone injection prevented the carbon dioxide drop, symptoms disappeared.
What they did
Measured carbon dioxide levels daily in 3 women with severe PMS using a breathing monitor. The women were also treated with a hormone injection called triptorelin.
What they found
The 3 women had a drop of 12-18 mm Hg in carbon dioxide levels during the luteal phase, much larger than in healthy women. When carbon dioxide dropped, PMS symptoms appeared. When carbon dioxide rose again at the end of the luteal phase, symptoms disappeared. With triptorelin treatment, carbon dioxide did not drop and all women were symptom-free.
What it means for you
Some PMS symptoms might be caused by overbreathing during the luteal phase, which lowers carbon dioxide levels in the blood. The body may become extra sensitive to carbon dioxide changes during this part of the cycle. The main limitation is that this is just 3 case reports.
12-18 mm Hg
drop in carbon dioxide
About the study
- Original title
- Symptoms of premenstrual syndrome may be caused by hyperventilation
- Authors
- Ott HW, Mattle V, Zimmermann US et al.
- Journal
- Fertility and sterility
- Year
- 2006
- Study design
- Case report
- What was tested
- Hormone injection (triptorelin)
- Open access
- Yes
- Read the paper
- doi.org/10.1016/j.fertnstert.2006.01.062
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