A specific profile of luteal phase progesterone is associated with the development of premenstrual symptoms.
There is a consensus that the development of premenstrual dysphoric states is related to cyclical change in gonadal hormone secretion during the menstrual cycle. However, results from studies seeking to link symptom severity to luteal phase progesterone concentration have been equivocal. In the present study we evaluated not only the absolute concentrations of progesterone but also the kinetics of the change in progesterone concentration in relation to development of premenstrual symptoms during the last 10days of the luteal phase in a population of 46 healthy young adult Brazilian women aged 18-39 years, mean 26.5±6.7years. In participants who developed symptoms of premenstrual distress, daily saliva progesterone concentration remained stable during most of the mid-late luteal phase, before declining sharply during the last 3days prior to onset of menstruation. In contrast, progesterone concentration in asymptomatic women underwent a gradual decline over the last 8days prior to menstruation. Neither maximum nor minimum concentrations of progesterone in the two groups were related to the appearance or severity of premenstrual symptoms. We propose that individual differences in the kinetics of progesterone secretion and/or metabolism may confer differential susceptibility to the development of premenstrual syndrome.
School of Physiology, Pharmacology and Neuroscience, University of Bristol, Bristol B15 2TT, UK; Instituto de Neurociências e Comportamento, Avenida do Café, 2450, Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil. Electronic address: Thelma.lovick@bristol.ac.uk.
Thelma A
TA
Lovick
Departments of Neuroscience and Behavior, Ribeirão Preto Medical School, University of São Paulo - Campus, Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil.
Vinicius G
VG
Guapo
Departamento de Morfologia, Fisiologia, e Patologia Básica, Faculdade de Odontologia, Universidade de São Paulo - Campus, Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil.
Janete A
JA
Anselmo-Franci
Departments of Neuroscience and Behavior, Ribeirão Preto Medical School, University of São Paulo - Campus, Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil.
Camila M
CM
Loureiro
Departments of Neuroscience and Behavior, Ribeirão Preto Medical School, University of São Paulo - Campus, Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil.
Maria Clara M
MCM
Faleiros
Departments of Neuroscience and Behavior, Ribeirão Preto Medical School, University of São Paulo - Campus, Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil.
Cristina M
CM
Del Ben
Instituto de Neurociências e Comportamento, Avenida do Café, 2450, Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil.
Marcus L
ML
Brandão
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008183:Luteal Phase / Q000378:metabolism*; D011293:Premenstrual Syndrome / Q000378:metabolism*; D011374:Progesterone / Q000378:metabolism*; D012463:Saliva / Q000737:chemistry; D055815:Young Adult
D011374:Progesterone
Luteal phase; Premenstrual symptoms; Progesterone; Saliva