PMDD: It's Not Your Hormone Levels, It's Your Brain
From The Sirona Health Podcast: PMDD, Hormones & Mental Health · 12:05
Show by Dr Georgina Standen
If your hormone tests keep coming back "normal" but you still feel awful — this episode explains why. Dr Georgina Standen breaks down the real science behind PMS and PMDD: it's not about how much oestrogen or progesterone you have, it's about how your brain responds to it.In this episode:Why women with PMS and PMDD usually have completely normal hormone levels — and why that's not a dead endThe lab research showing PMDD cells respond differently to the same hormone exposure, right down to gene expressionWhy SSRIs can work within days for PMDD, when standard depression treatment takes weeksThe traditional progesterone-and-GABA explanation — how allopregnanolone should calm the brain, and why it doesn't alwaysWhy hormonal contraception can be so unpredictable for PMDD specifically, and why more isn't always betterHow stress, sleep, and alcohol can amplify an already-sensitive systemThe Sirona Health Podcast is hosted by Dr Georgina Standen, GP and founder of Sirona Health, a specialist women's health practice. Further information: sironahealth.co.uk This podcast is for general information only and doesn't replace individual medical advice — please speak to your GP or a specialist about your own symptoms. If you're struggling, please reach out for support.
More episodes of The Sirona Health Podcast: PMDD, Hormones & Mental Health
More episodes
- Premenstrual Exacerbation (PME): PMDD or Something Else?
- Therapy for PMDD: Does CBT, DBT or ACT Actually Help?
- How SSRIs, SNRIs and Quetiapine Fit Into PMDD Treatment
- PMDD treatment: GnRH analogues
- Hormonal treatments for PMDD: Beyond the combined contraceptive pill
- The Pill for PMDD: What It Actually Is, and Which One Has the Evidence
- PMS vs PMDD: Understanding the Key Differences
- The Numbers and the Picture: How Common Are PMS and PMDD, and What Do They Actually Look Like
- Diagnosing PMS vs PMDD and Getting a Diagnosis: How PMS and PMDD Are Actually Diagnosed, and What Cycle Mapping Adds
- PMDD Diagnosis: Why It Takes So Long, and Who Can Actually Help
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