Endocrinological aspects of cyclical mood changes during the menstrual cycle or the premenstrual syndrome

Abstract

Premenstrual syndrome is a condition with cyclical mood changes occurring in 30% of the female population of fertile age. The symptom development is very closely related to the luteal phase, thus indicating the existence of one or more factors during the luteal phase that provoke mental symptoms in sensitive patients. This is further supported by the fact that hysterectomized women with no menstrual bleedings but with the ovarian hormone cycle, continue to show cyclical mood changes without knowing the cycle phase. The nature of the symptom-provoking factor is still unknown, but the ovarian hormones progesterone and/or estradiol are suspected because certain women taking oral contraceptives or on sequential postmenopausal estrogen progestagen treatment undergo mood changes. Psychological and personality factors are probably also involved, at least in the degree of the mood change and the type of mood experienced.