LUTEAL-PHASE OVARIAN-STEROIDS, STRESS AROUSAL, PREMENSES PERCEIVED STRESS, AND PREMENSTRUAL SYMPTOMS

The purpose of this study was to examine the relationships among perce ived stress, ovarian steroids (estradiol and pregnanediol), stress aro usal indicators (cortisol, catecholamines) and premenstrual symptoms ( turmoil, fluid retention). Women (N = 74) with low symptom severity (L S), premenstrual syndrome (PMS), or premenstrual magnification (PMM) s ymptom patterns provided daily urine samples over one cycle and record ed their symptoms and perceived stress levels in a health diary. Multi ple regression analysis was used to test models of premenstrual sympto ms in separate analyses for women with the LS and PMS symptom patterns and the LS and PMM symptom patterns. Data from the LS and PMS groups revealed that greater stress ratings accounted for turmoil symptoms an d higher luteal phase cortisol levels for fluid retention symptoms. Fo r LS and PMM groups, lower luteal phase norepinephrine levels, higher global stress ratings, and a more gradual drop in estradiol premenses accounted for turmoil symptoms. Premenses norepinephrine and epinephri ne levels and premenses stress ratings accounted for fluid retention. These findings support an important relationship among perceived stres s, stress arousal indicators, and premenstrual symptoms that differs f or women with a PMS and PMM symptom pattern. (C) 1998 John Wiley & Son s, Inc.