---
title: Does a GnRH agonist help PMS symptoms? | Niyora
description: Yes, leuprolide significantly reduced PMS symptoms in women whose symptoms were limited to the premenstrual phase. It did not help women whose depression occu
url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/gonadotropin-releasing-hormone-agonist-in-the-treatment-of-premenstrual-symptoms-1997/
---

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- Does a GnRH agonist help PMS symptoms?

Randomised trial, 1997

# Does a GnRH agonist help PMS symptoms?

Yes, leuprolide significantly reduced PMS symptoms in women whose symptoms were limited to the premenstrual phase. It did not help women whose depression occurred throughout their cycle.

 Moderate study design

Thirty-three women with either PMS only or ongoing depression

## What they did

Thirty-three women with either PMS only or ongoing depression were randomly assigned to receive 3.75 mg leuprolide or placebo injected once monthly for 3 months. Symptoms were recorded throughout.

## What they found

Leuprolide significantly reduced PMS symptoms in women with PMS only. Women with ongoing depression showed no improvement. Depression improved in the PMS-only group but persisted in the ongoing-depression group.

## What it means for you

This hormone treatment works for women whose PMS symptoms are limited to the premenstrual phase, but not for women whose depression is ongoing. The study was small with only 33 participants.

33

women in study

3.75 mg

monthly leuprolide dose

3

months of treatment

## About the study

Original title Gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist in the treatment of premenstrual symptoms with and without ongoing dysphoria: a controlled study Authors Freeman EW, Sondheimer SJ, Rickels K Journal Psychopharmacology bulletin Year 1997 Study design Randomised trial What was tested Leuprolide acetate 3.75 mg depot injection once monthly for 3 months versus placebo Read the paper [https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/9230648/](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/9230648/)

## Topics

[Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pms/)[Premenstrual exacerbation (PME)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pme/)[Low mood and depression](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-depression-mood/)[GnRH agonists and ovarian suppression](https://niyora.com/research/topics/treatment-gnrh/)

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

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