---
title: Does stopping ovulation help severe premenstrual tension? | Niyora
description: Yes, a drug that stops ovulation (goserelin) reduced breast discomfort and swelling significantly. It also reduced mood swings, though the effect on mood was
url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/ovarian-suppression-with-the-gonadotrophin-releasing-hormone-agonist-goserelin-1994/
---

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- Does stopping ovulation help severe premenstrual tension?

Randomised trial, 1994

# Does stopping ovulation help severe premenstrual tension?

Yes, a drug that stops ovulation (goserelin) reduced breast discomfort and swelling significantly. It also reduced mood swings, though the effect on mood was weaker and had a strong placebo component.

 Moderate study design

32 women with severe premenstrual tension confirmed by daily tracking.

## What they did

Randomized, double-blind study comparing goserelin (3.6 mg injected once a month) to placebo over 3 months in 32 women with severe premenstrual tension confirmed by symptom tracking. Of 16 women per group, 15 completed goserelin treatment and 12 completed placebo.

## What they found

Active treatment significantly reduced breast discomfort and swelling. Anxiety and depression also improved in actively treated cycles, but a strong placebo effect was present. Significant differences between treatment and placebo appeared mainly during the first treatment cycle and the first cycle after treatment stopped.

## What it means for you

Stopping ovulation helps physical PMS symptoms more than mood symptoms. There is a strong placebo effect in PMS treatment, which is important to understand when evaluating treatments. The main limitation is the relatively small sample size.

32

women enrolled

15

completed goserelin treatment

12

completed placebo treatment

## About the study

Original title Ovarian suppression with the gonadotrophin-releasing hormone agonist goserelin (Zoladex) in management of the premenstrual tension syndrome Authors West CP, Hillier H Journal Human reproduction (Oxford, England) Year 1994 Study design Randomised trial Participants 32 What was tested Goserelin 3.6 mg injected monthly for 3 months, compared to placebo. Read the paper [doi.org/10.1093/oxfordjournals.humrep.a138633](https://doi.org/10.1093/oxfordjournals.humrep.a138633)

## Topics

[Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pms/)[Menstrual cycle and mood](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-cycle-mood/)[Low mood and depression](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-depression-mood/)[Anxiety and tension](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-anxiety/)[Bloating, breast tenderness and physical symptoms](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-physical-symptoms/)[GnRH agonists and ovarian suppression](https://niyora.com/research/topics/treatment-gnrh/)

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