Progesterone levels and psychological state in normal women

Abstract

Abstract The possibility of a relationship between progesterone level and psychological state was studied. Three groups of 10 women each were administered psychological tests during menstruation to obtain a common base line. Groups were tested again so as to obtain data during progessively higher progesterone peaks (one group during normal-cycle calculated peak, one during the height of Enovid therapy, one during the third trimester of pregnancy). Of 57 variables analyzed, only 2 varied significantly and progressively among the three groups. These 2 could be indicative of increasing emotional vulnerability with increasing progesterone level. The logic of statistical inference, however, renders even these findings dubious, since one would expect approximately three variables (of 57) to reach the 0.05 probability level by chance. It was concluded that serious psychological disturbances are unlikely hazards secondary to increased progesterone levels in normal women.