---
title: What causes PMDD and what are the treatment options? | Niyora
description: PMDD affects an estimated 5-8% of women and causes severe mood and physical symptoms. The cause involves individual sensitivity to hormonal changes. Treatment
url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/update-on-research-and-treatment-of-premenstrual-dysphoric-disorder-2009/
---

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- What causes PMDD and what are the treatment options?

Review, 2009

# What causes PMDD and what are the treatment options?

PMDD affects an estimated 5-8% of women and causes severe mood and physical symptoms. The cause involves individual sensitivity to hormonal changes. Treatments include serotonin antidepressants, medications that stop ovulation, and certain newer birth control pills.

 Strong study design

Women in reproductive years, particularly those with PMDD

## What they did

This is a review article on PMDD research and treatment options.

## What they found

PMDD affects an estimated 5-8% of premenopausal women and causes severe mood symptoms (irritability, depression, tension, mood swings) and physical symptoms (breast tenderness, bloating) that affect work and social functioning. Individual sensitivity to cyclical hormone changes may cause these symptoms. Treatments include serotonin antidepressants (taken intermittently or throughout the cycle), medications that suppress ovulation, and newer oral contraceptives with novel progestins.

## What it means for you

PMDD is a biological condition linked to hormone sensitivity, not a personal failing. Multiple effective treatment approaches exist.

5-8%

premenopausal women with PMDD

## About the study

Original title Update on research and treatment of premenstrual dysphoric disorder Authors Cunningham J, Yonkers KA, O'Brien S et al. Journal Harvard review of psychiatry Year 2009 Study design Review What was tested Various treatments: antidepressants, ovulation-suppressing medications, new birth control pills Open access Yes Read the paper [doi.org/10.1080/10673220902891836](https://doi.org/10.1080/10673220902891836)

## Topics

[Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pms/)[Premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pmdd/)[Menstrual cycle and mood](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-cycle-mood/)[Low mood and depression](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-depression-mood/)[Bloating, breast tenderness and physical symptoms](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-physical-symptoms/)[SSRIs and antidepressants](https://niyora.com/research/topics/treatment-ssri/)[Oral contraceptives and drospirenone](https://niyora.com/research/topics/treatment-hormonal-contraceptives/)[Quality of life and daily functioning](https://niyora.com/research/topics/life-area-quality-of-life/)

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

Study, 2022

What are the symptoms, causes, and treatments of PMS and PMDD?

Systematic review, 2012

What medications work best for PMDD?

Study, 2026

What treatments work for PMDD?

Randomised trial, 2017

Does Sepranolone reduce symptoms of severe premenstrual syndrome (PMDD)?

Randomised trial, 2002

Does the birth control pill Yasmin help women with PMDD?

Case report, 2023

Can stopping ovulation help severe PMDD when other treatments do not work?

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