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Randomised trial, 1979

Are hormone levels abnormal in women with premenstrual tension, and can bromocriptine help?

Women with premenstrual tension showed different prolactin patterns across the cycle. Bromocriptine lowered prolactin but did not change other hormone levels.

Early or limited evidence 20 women with premenstrual tension and 20 controls

What they did

A study comparing hormone levels (prolactin, FSH, LH, progesterone, estradiol) between 20 women with premenstrual tension and 20 controls, with the premenstrual tension group also receiving bromocriptine treatment.

What they found

Prolactin levels in women with premenstrual tension were lower in the follicular phase than the luteal phase (P < 0.01) but showed no difference from controls in the luteal phase. No differences were found between the groups in FSH, LH, estradiol, or progesterone levels in the luteal phase. Bromocriptine suppressed prolactin (P < 0.01) but had no effect on FSH, LH, estradiol, or progesterone.

What it means for you

Prolactin changes across the cycle in women with premenstrual tension, but lowering it with bromocriptine did not change other hormones. The abstract does not report whether bromocriptine improved symptoms. This was a very small study with only 20 women per group.

20

women per group

<0.01

p value for prolactin

About the study

Original title
Hormone profile in premenstrual tension: effects of bromocriptine and diuretics
Authors
Andersch B, Abrahamsson L, Wendestam C et al.
Journal
Clinical endocrinology
Year
1979
Study design
Randomised trial
What was tested
Bromocriptine treatment

Topics