Plasma progesterone, oestradiol 17 beta and premenstrual symptoms

Thirty-nine healthy women, mainly hospital employees, median age 23, kept a daily record of symptoms throughout their menstrual cycles and plasma progesterone and oestradiol 17 beta levels were measured daily in the premenstrual week and second daily for the remainder of the cycle. Groups with symptom scores (affective, somatic and total) above and below the median score were compared with respect to mean plasma hormone levels and the pattern of change of plasma hormones over the 3 weeks before menstruation and the last 7 premenstrual days. Progesterone/oestrogen ratios for the latter period were also compared in the same subjects. No significant differences were found. There was a positive correlation of age with mean plasma progesterone level in the 3 weeks before menstruation.