Comparison of Metabolic and Hormonal Profiles of Women With and Without Premenstrual Syndrome: A Community Based Cross-Sectional Study

BACKGROUND: Premenstrual syndrome (PMS) is reported by up to 85% of women of reproductive age. Although several studies have focused on the hormone and lipid profiles of females with PMS, the results are controversial. OBJECTIVES: This study was designed to investigate the association of hormonal and metabolic factors with PMS among Iranian women of reproductive age. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study was a community based cross-sectional study. Anthropometric measurements, biochemical parameters, and metabolic disorders were compared between 354 women with PMS and 302 healthy controls selected from among 1126 women of reproductive age who participated in the Iranian PCOS prevalence study. P values < 0.05 were considered significant. RESULTS: Prolactin (PRL) and triglycerides (TG) were significantly elevated in women with PMS, whereas their testosterone (TES), high density lipoprotein (HDL) and 17-hydroxyprogesterone (17-OHP) levels were significantly less than they were in women without the syndrome (P < 0.05). After adjusting for age and body mass index (BMI), linear regression analysis demonstrated that for every one unit increase in PMS score there was 12% rise in the probability of having metabolic syndrome (P = 0.033). CONCLUSIONS: There was a significant association between PMS scores and the prevalence of metabolic syndrome. Further studies are needed to confirm and validate the relationships between lipid profile abnormalities and metabolic disorders with PMS.