Hormone levels in severe premenstrual tension

Premenstrual tension syndrome.

“…Others4-6 have supported this view, but evidence of progesterone deficiency in the second half of the cycle has been based largely on clinical observations,7 and only recently have radioimmunoassay techniques brought a new accuracy to the measurement of steroid hormones. A group working at St Thomas's Hospital showed a lack ofprogesterone in the second half of the cycle in 3000 of women suffering from severe symptoms when compared with normal controls.8 9 Similar results have been reported elsewhere,10 but what of the 70% of women with normal progesterone values? Some may have raised oestradiol concentrations, but there is no evidence that women with prolonged or high oestrogen activity (such as occurs in metropathia haemorrhagica) suffer unduly from premenstrual tension.7 More likely is a relatively minor imbalance in hormones including not only oestradiol and progesterone but also aldosterone and prolactin.…”

Premenstrual Complaints. I. Prevalence of Premenstrual Symptoms in a Swedish Urban Population

“…This is probably due to shortening of the luteal phase. A positive correlation between PMT symptoms and a short luteal phase has been suggested [19]. In this study the prevalence and intensity of individual premenstrual symptoms did not vary significantly with the length of the menstrual cycle.…”

Menstruation and Aggression in a Population of Women with Learning Disabilities

“…There was no significant increase in the rate of aggressive incidents perimenstrually . There was no significant difference in the rates of incidents occurring in the low progesterone when compared to the relatively high progesterone time in the cycle, which is unexpected given the findings in the general population (Dalton, 1977;Backstrom & Carstensen, 1974;Munday, 1977). Medication plays an important role in the findings of the study.…”