---
title: Does regular exercise increase hormones that help with PMS? | Niyora
description: Yes. Regular exercise significantly increased melatonin levels, which play a role in PMS symptoms.
url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/the-effect-of-physical-activity-on-the-levels-of-the-hormones-serotonin-and-2018/
---

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- Does regular exercise increase hormones that help with PMS?

Study, 2018

# Does regular exercise increase hormones that help with PMS?

Yes. Regular exercise significantly increased melatonin levels, which play a role in PMS symptoms.

 Early or limited evidence

20 professional sports female athletes with PMS

## What they did

Researchers measured blood levels of serotonin and melatonin in 20 professional female athletes with PMS. They measured hormone levels before and after the sports season, and also before and after individual exercise sessions.

## What they found

After physical activity, melatonin levels increased significantly, both before and after the sports season. Melatonin levels did not change significantly with the season itself. The researchers concluded that regular exercise is effective for treating PMS symptoms.

## What it means for you

Physical activity may help PMS by increasing melatonin, a hormone that plays a role in PMS symptoms. The main limitation is that only 20 professional athletes were studied, so it is unclear if these results apply to all women.

20

professional female athletes with PMS

## About the study

Original title The effect of physical activity on the levels of the hormones, serotonin and melatonin in premenstrual syndrome Authors Kadir Bakay, Hasan Ulubaşoğlu, Tülin Atan et al. Journal Clinical and Experimental Obstetrics & Gynecology Year 2018 Study design Study Participants 20 What was tested Physical activity and regular exercise Open access Yes Read the paper [doi.org/10.12891/ceog4201.2018](https://doi.org/10.12891/ceog4201.2018)

## Topics

[Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pms/)[Sleep and insomnia](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-sleep/)[Exercise and yoga](https://niyora.com/research/topics/treatment-exercise/)[Athletes and sport](https://niyora.com/research/topics/life-area-athletes/)

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.

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