Non-randomised trial, 1990
Can removing the ovaries cure severe PMS that hasn't responded to other treatments?
In this small study of 14 women, yes: shutting down ovarian hormones with medication gave complete relief, and surgery to remove the ovaries and uterus (plus low-dose estrogen) gave lasting relief afterward.
What they did
14 women with severe PMS that had not responded to standard medical treatment were given danazol to stop their ovaries cycling hormones. All 14 then chose to have their ovaries and uterus surgically removed, followed by low-dose estrogen therapy.
What they found
All 14 women had complete relief from symptoms while on danazol. After surgery and estrogen replacement, they had lasting relief from their cyclic PMS symptoms and reported better overall quality of life.
What it means for you
This suggests that cycling ovarian hormones are a strong driver of severe PMS, and permanently stopping those cycles can help women who have tried everything else without success. But this was a tiny, uncontrolled study of major, irreversible surgery, so it's only relevant to the most severe, treatment-resistant cases.
14
Women studied
14/14
Complete relief with danazol
About the study
- Original title
- Lasting response to ovariectomy in severe intractable premenstrual syndrome
- Authors
- Casson P, Hahn PM, Van Vugt DA et al.
- Journal
- American journal of obstetrics and gynecology
- Year
- 1990
- Study design
- Non-randomised trial
- Participants
- 14
- What was tested
- Danazol to suppress ovarian hormones, followed by surgical removal of ovaries and uterus plus low-dose estrogen replacement.
- Read the paper
- doi.org/10.1016/0002-9378(90)90830-z
Topics
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