Premenstrual Changes: Why Hormones Shift Your Mood and Body
What researchers think happens in PMS: hormone levels are usually normal, but the brain may be extra sensitive to their rise and fall.
Cycle literacy - Body & Symptoms, about 3 min read
What Causes Premenstrual Symptoms?
Premenstrual syndrome (PMS) refers to a collection of physical, cognitive, and emotional symptoms that occur during the late luteal phase and resolve shortly after menses begins.
Hormone levels in people with PMS are usually normal. Researchers think some people are more sensitive to the normal rise and fall of estrogen and progesterone after ovulation, but the exact cause isn't known.
Serotonin and GABA Interactions
Progesterone metabolites (such as allopregnanolone) interact directly with GABA receptors in the brain, which regulate calm and anxiety. As progesterone rises and then falls after ovulation, researchers think this shifts GABA and serotonin signaling, which may contribute to premenstrual mood sensitivity, sleep disruptions, and sugar cravings.
Tracking premenstrual symptoms over several cycles helps identify personal patterns and supports productive discussions with your healthcare provider if symptoms become disruptive.