Case-control study, 1987
Are serotonin levels different in women with PMS?
Yes. Women with PMS had significantly lower serotonin levels during the last ten days of their menstrual cycle compared to women without PMS.
What they did
A case-control study. Researchers measured whole-blood serotonin levels in 14 women with documented PMS and 13 age-matched control subjects. They also measured serum estradiol and progesterone levels.
What they found
Serotonin levels in women with PMS were significantly lower during the last ten days of the menstrual cycle. No significant differences were found in serum estradiol and progesterone levels between the groups.
What it means for you
Low serotonin may contribute to PMS symptoms, since low serotonin is known to cause depression. However, this is a small study and it does not show whether low serotonin causes PMS or results from other cycle changes.
14
women with PMS
13
control subjects
10
days of significantly lower serotonin
About the study
- Original title
- Whole-blood serotonin in premenstrual syndrome
- Authors
- Rapkin AJ, Edelmuth E, Chang LC et al.
- Journal
- Obstetrics and gynecology
- Year
- 1987
- Study design
- Case-control study
- Participants
- 14
- What was tested
- Serotonin level measurement during menstrual cycle
- Read the paper
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/3627623/