Alcohol promotes PMS

Christiane Fux studied journalism and psychology in Hamburg. The experienced medical editor has been writing magazine articles, news and factual texts on all conceivable health topics since 2001. In addition to her work for, Christiane Fux is also active in prose. Her first crime novel was published in 2012, and she also writes, designs and publishes her own crime plays.

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For women with premenstrual syndrome (PMS), a simple measure could help: drink less alcohol. Because wine, beer and spirits apparently favor the symptoms before the menstrual period.

Premenstrual syndrome is common: around every third woman suffers from it. It manifests itself in numerous physical and emotional complaints. While some sufferers are only slightly stressed, PMS incapacitates other women for days.

80 percent higher risk

A large overview study shows that PMS is particularly common in women who drink a lot of alcohol. Specifically, this means at least ten milligrams of pure alcohol a day, which corresponds to a standard drink, or more. Then the likelihood of developing PMS increases by almost 80 percent. But even for women who do not drink as much, this risk is greater than for women who completely or largely abstain from alcohol - depending on the dose.

Scientists working with Bahi Takkouch from the University of Santiago de Compostela evaluated 19 epidemiological studies with 47,000 participants.

Alcohol affects sex hormones and mood

It seems plausible that alcohol is actually responsible for the discovered connection: "It influences the level of sex hormones and gonadotropins during the cycle," the scientists write. The latter regulate, among other things, egg maturation and the production of estrogen and testosterone.

In addition, alcohol could increase the risk of PMS because it affects the activity of serotonin and the messenger substance gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA).

In fact, it is known that both serotonin and GABA levels are disrupted in women with PMS. Therefore, certain antidepressants called selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) may also help women with PMS.

Alcohol responsible for every fifth PMS case?

The researchers have calculated that alcohol could be responsible for 20 percent of PMS cases in Europe, where women consume more than in many other regions of the world.

However, the final evidence that alcohol actually promotes PMS is still pending. It is also conceivable, for example, that women who suffer from the syndrome drink more alcohol to alleviate the symptoms. However, the fact that so many studies point in the same direction and that there is a plausible biological mechanism that explains the connection strengthens the researchers' hypothesis.

From abdominal pain to depression

Premenstrual syndrome can be associated with a wide variety of complaints. These include abdominal pain, diarrhea, fatigue, blemishes and headaches. In addition, emotional complaints such as irritability, anxiety, sleep disorders and depressive symptoms occur. For some people, PMS shows up two weeks before their period, for others just a few days before.

Tags:  unfulfilled wish to have children symptoms vaccinations