---
title: Does the drop in progesterone or stress during the menstrual cycle cause chocolate and sweets cravings?
description: This study found no clear evidence either way. Neither progesterone nor a tranquilizer reduced chocolate or sweets craving in women with severe PMS.
url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/the-role-of-low-progesterone-and-tension-as-triggers-of-perimenstrual-chocolate-1999/
---

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- Does the drop in progesterone or stress during the menstrual cycle cause chocolate and sweets cravings?

Randomised trial, 1999

# Does the drop in progesterone or stress during the menstrual cycle cause chocolate and sweets cravings?

This study found no clear evidence either way. Neither progesterone nor a tranquilizer reduced chocolate or sweets craving in women with severe PMS.

 Moderate study design

Women with severe PMS who experienced chocolate or sweets cravings around their period

## What they did

Women with severe PMS who craved chocolate or sweets tracked their cravings daily for 6 menstrual cycles. 44 women with chocolate craving and 44 with sweet craving were then randomly assigned double-blind to receive either placebo, progesterone, or alprazolam (a tranquilizer) from week 3 of the cycle through day 2 after their period, for 3 months.

## What they found

Neither progesterone nor alprazolam decreased chocolate or sweets craving.

## What it means for you

The two leading theories about what causes perimenstrual chocolate and sweets cravings (low progesterone or tension) are not supported by this study. The actual cause remains unclear. This study was only in women with severe PMS who craved these foods.

44

women with chocolate craving cycles

44

women with sweets craving cycles

3 months

treatment duration

## About the study

Original title The role of low progesterone and tension as triggers of perimenstrual chocolate and sweets craving: some negative experimental evidence Authors Michener W, Rozin P, Freeman E et al. Journal Physiology & behavior Year 1999 Study design Randomised trial What was tested Progesterone, alprazolam tranquilizer, or placebo Open access Yes Read the paper [doi.org/10.1016/s0031-9384(99)00094-3](https://doi.org/10.1016/s0031-9384(99)00094-3)

## Topics

[Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pms/)[Anxiety and tension](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-anxiety/)[Appetite and food cravings](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-food-cravings/)[Estradiol, progesterone and hormone therapy](https://niyora.com/research/topics/treatment-hormone-therapy/)[Anxiolytics and other psychotropics](https://niyora.com/research/topics/treatment-anxiolytics/)

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

Survey study, 2014

Does allopregnanolone, a progesterone metabolite, cause mood problems in PMDD?

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Why do some women experience negative mood with hormone changes?

Survey study, 2009

Why do some women feel depressed or anxious when progesterone increases before their period?

Systematic review, 2026

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Systematic review, 2008

What treatments work best for PMS and PMDD?

Systematic review, 2007

What treatments work for premenstrual syndrome?

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