Survey study, 1979
Are hormone levels abnormal in women with premenstrual tension syndrome?
No. Hormone levels themselves are not greatly abnormal. How the different hormones relate to and balance each other is probably more important than individual hormone levels.
What they did
This is a review of what is known about how hormones change during the menstrual cycle and their relationships with each other.
What they found
The patterns of hormone release during the menstrual cycle are well understood. Different hormones control each other through feedback systems. In women with premenstrual tension syndrome, serum concentrations of hormones are not grossly abnormal. However, the relationships between hormones are probably more important than individual hormone levels.
What it means for you
Doctors may need to look at how hormones interact with each other rather than just measuring whether individual hormone levels are too high or too low. Premenstrual symptoms may come from problems with how the body's hormone system communicates, not from simple hormone abnormalities.
About the study
- Original title
- The endocrinology of the menstrual cycle
- Authors
- W. R. BUTT
- Journal
- Current Medical Research and Opinion
- Year
- 1979
- Study design
- Survey study
- Read the paper
- doi.org/10.1185/03007997909110092
Topics
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