--- title: Does progesterone help premenstrual syndrome? | Niyora description: No. Progesterone suppositories at 400 mg or 800 mg did not significantly improve premenstrual symptoms compared to placebo. url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/ineffectiveness-of-progesterone-suppository-treatment-for-premenstrual-syndrome-1990/ --- - [Niyora](https://niyora.com/) - [Research](https://niyora.com/research/) - [Library](https://niyora.com/research/library/) - Does progesterone help premenstrual syndrome? Randomised trial, 1990 # Does progesterone help premenstrual syndrome? No. Progesterone suppositories at 400 mg or 800 mg did not significantly improve premenstrual symptoms compared to placebo. Strong study design 168 women with premenstrual syndrome ## What they did Double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover trial with 168 women. They received progesterone suppositories at 400 mg, 800 mg, or placebo. Symptoms were measured through daily symptom reports, clinician evaluation, and patient self-assessment of improvement and symptom severity. ## What they found Progesterone was not significantly better than placebo for any measure. No individual symptom or group of symptoms showed significant differences between progesterone and placebo treatment. Results were not affected by placebo washout effects, baseline depression or anxiety levels, or any of 19 other background or medical factors examined. ## What it means for you Progesterone suppositories do not appear to work for PMS, even though they are widely used. This is a well-designed study with 168 women and careful analysis, though it only tested the suppository form of progesterone. 168 Women in the study 400 and 800 Progesterone doses tested (mg) ## About the study Original title Ineffectiveness of progesterone suppository treatment for premenstrual syndrome Authors Freeman E, Rickels K, Sondheimer SJ et al. Journal JAMA Year 1990 Study design Randomised trial Participants 168 What was tested Progesterone suppositories 400 mg or 800 mg Read the paper [doi.org/10.1001/jama.1990.03450030073035](https://doi.org/10.1001/jama.1990.03450030073035) ## 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 ↗