---
title: What medical treatments are proven effective for PMS? | Niyora
description: There is no clear evidence that any single medical treatment is definitively effective for PMS, though psychological approaches may also be worth considering.
url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/medical-treatment-of-premenstrual-syndrome-1985/
---

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- What medical treatments are proven effective for PMS?

Review, 1985

# What medical treatments are proven effective for PMS?

There is no clear evidence that any single medical treatment is definitively effective for PMS, though psychological approaches may also be worth considering.

 Early or limited evidence

Literature review (not a primary study population)

## What they did

A literature review of proposed medical treatments for PMS. Treatments were divided into three categories: those that relieve specific symptoms, those intended to correct underlying causes, and those that alter the menstrual cycle. Reviewed treatments included psychoactive drugs, diet, exercise, vitamin supplements, hormones, and surgery.

## What they found

There is no clear-cut evidence of the effectiveness of any of these medical approaches.

## What it means for you

Because the causes of PMS are not well understood and there is no standard diagnostic test, it has been difficult to study which treatments actually work. The author notes that psychotherapy should not be overlooked in favor of medical and drug approaches alone.

3

categories of treatments reviewed

## About the study

Original title Medical treatment of premenstrual syndrome Authors Keye WR Jr Journal Canadian journal of psychiatry. Revue canadienne de psychiatrie Year 1985 Study design Review What was tested None Read the paper [doi.org/10.1177/070674378503000705](https://doi.org/10.1177/070674378503000705)

## Topics

[Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pms/)[GnRH agonists and ovarian suppression](https://niyora.com/research/topics/treatment-gnrh/)[Psychotherapy, counselling and education](https://niyora.com/research/topics/treatment-psychotherapy/)[Exercise and yoga](https://niyora.com/research/topics/treatment-exercise/)[Diuretics and other drugs](https://niyora.com/research/topics/treatment-diuretics-other-drugs/)[Surgical menopause](https://niyora.com/research/topics/treatment-surgery/)

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

Review, 1991

What treatments are available for late luteal phase dysphoric disorder?

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What treatments work for premenstrual syndrome?

Randomised trial, 2003

What treatments work for PMS and PMDD?

Review, 2002

What treatments work best for PMS and PMDD?

Review, 2001

What are PMS and PMDD, and how are they treated?

Study, 1997

What medications work best for treating PMS?

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