--- title: Do progesterone vaginal suppositories help premenstrual syndrome? description: No. The response to progesterone vaginal suppositories was at best marginal and not significantly different from placebo. url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/a-double-blind-placebo-controlled-trial-of-progesterone-vaginal-suppositories-in-1986/ --- - [Niyora](https://niyora.com/) - [Research](https://niyora.com/research/) - [Library](https://niyora.com/research/library/) - Do progesterone vaginal suppositories help premenstrual syndrome? Randomised trial, 1986 # Do progesterone vaginal suppositories help premenstrual syndrome? No. The response to progesterone vaginal suppositories was at best marginal and not significantly different from placebo. Early or limited evidence 20 women with severe premenstrual syndrome who completed the trial ## What they did Women with severe premenstrual syndrome were enrolled in an 8-month double-blind placebo-controlled trial. After a control month, they used 200 mg progesterone suppositories or placebo twice daily for at least 12 days before menstruation for 3 months, then switched treatments for 3 months, with a final control month. Although the dropout rate was high, 20 women completed the trial. ## What they found The response to vaginal progesterone in these dosages was at best marginal and not significantly different from response with placebo. ## What it means for you Progesterone vaginal suppositories at 200 mg do not appear to be an effective treatment for severe PMS. The study was rigorous in design but had a high dropout rate and only 20 women completed it, which limits how much we can trust the results. 20 Women who completed trial 200 mg Progesterone per suppository 3 months Treatment period per arm ## About the study Original title A double-blind placebo-controlled trial of progesterone vaginal suppositories in the treatment of premenstrual syndrome Authors Maddocks S, Hahn P, Moller F et al. Journal American journal of obstetrics and gynecology Year 1986 Study design Randomised trial Participants 20 What was tested 200 mg progesterone suppositories twice daily or placebo for at least 12 days before menstruation, 3 months per treatment with crossover Read the paper [doi.org/10.1016/0002-9378(86)90604-6](https://doi.org/10.1016/0002-9378(86)90604-6) ## Topics [Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pms/)[Estradiol, progesterone and hormone therapy](https://niyora.com/research/topics/treatment-hormone-therapy/) Research tells you what helps on average. Niyora helps on the day it hits. Calm down, see it another way, and decide what to say, with a PMS and PMDD app built by a doctor. ## Related studies Systematic review, 2023 What hormonal treatments have been tested for PMDD, menstrual migraine, and catamenial epilepsy? Survey study, 2022 What causes PMS and PMDD and what new treatments are being studied? Systematic review, 2015 What are the effects of continuous hormonal treatments for premenstrual syndrome? Review, 2012 How should premenstrual disorders be diagnosed and organized? Review, 2012 How is PMS diagnosed and treated, especially in women approaching menopause? Randomised trial, 2012 Do hysterectomy or hormonal IUDs reduce premenstrual symptoms in women with heavy periods? Ask AI about this page Copy prompt ChatGPT ↗ Claude ↗ Perplexity ↗ Google AI Mode ↗ Grok ↗