Relationship between symptom severity and hormone changes in women with premenstrual syndrome

The relationship between symptoms and plasma hormone levels was investigated during 2 consecutive cycles in 18 women with the premenstrual tension syndrome (PMS). The women were asked to provide daily symptom ratings using a previously described and tested rating scale, and blood samples were taken daily during the luteal phase and most of the follicular phase for plasma estradiol, progesterone, FSH, and LH measurements. The symptom scores during the premenstrual phase were compared within each woman and between cycles with higher luteal phase and cycles with lower luteal phase plasma estradiol, progesterone, FSH, and LH concentrations. The results indicated that higher adverse premenstrual scores occurred in cycles with high luteal phase plasma estradiol and progesterone concentrations. In particular, a high luteal phase plasma estradiol concentration was related to higher premenstrual scores for adverse symptoms and lower scores for positive mood symptoms. The women experienced more severe PMS in cycles with high luteal phase plasma estradiol and progesterone levels. The results contradict the hypothesis that progesterone deficiency plays a part in the etiology of PMS.