Survey study, 2023
Can scientists find PMS in skin sweat chemicals?
Scientists found that certain chemicals in skin sweat vary across the menstrual cycle and differ between women with severe and mild PMS. However, this is very early research with only 12 women, so we cannot yet use it for diagnosis.
What they did
14 Japanese women aged 20-29 (12 completed) provided skin sweat samples at four points during their menstrual cycle. Scientists tested the sweat for 65 different chemicals using laboratory analysis.
What they found
Seven chemicals significantly changed during menstruation at one body site, with four more showing marginal changes. In women with severe PMS, ketones and fatty acids were higher during menstruation compared to women with mild PMS.
What it means for you
Skin sweat patterns may one day help diagnose PMS instead of relying only on symptom reports. The main limitation is the very small sample size. Only 12 women completed the study.
14
women enrolled
65
volatile organic compounds tested
7
compounds significantly changed
About the study
- Original title
- Volatile organic compounds from human skin as biomarkers of menstruation phase and severity of premenstrual syndrome: An exploratory pilot study
- Authors
- Fujii T, Matsuura N, Morita Y et al.
- Journal
- Heliyon
- Year
- 2023
- Study design
- Survey study
- What was tested
- None
- Open access
- Yes
- Read the paper
- doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e19627
Topics
Related studies
Systematic review, 2026
What is it like for women to live with PMS or PMDD?
Systematic review, 2025
Is there a link between stress, trauma, and premenstrual symptoms?
Cohort study, 2025
Is there a link between premenstrual disorders and autoimmune disease?
Cohort study, 2024
Do women with severe premenstrual disorders have higher risk of relationship breakup?
Cohort study, 2024
Is there a link between sleep and menstrual problems in teenage girls?
Randomised trial, 2023
Does taking sertraline when PMDD symptoms start improve how well women function?