---
title: What treatments work for PMS and PMDD in teenagers? | Niyora
description: At least 20% of teenagers experience moderate-to-severe premenstrual symptoms. Education, calcium, exercise, and stress reduction help mild cases, but severe
url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/premenstrual-dysphoric-disorder-and-severe-premenstrual-syndrome-in-adolescents-2013/
---

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- What treatments work for PMS and PMDD in teenagers?

Randomised trial, 2013

# What treatments work for PMS and PMDD in teenagers?

At least 20% of teenagers experience moderate-to-severe premenstrual symptoms. Education, calcium, exercise, and stress reduction help mild cases, but severe PMS and PMDD usually need medication like SSRIs or hormonal contraceptives. Research on teenagers is limited.

 Early or limited evidence

Adolescents with premenstrual disorders (literature review)

## What they did

Literature review summarizing research on premenstrual disorders in teenagers, including prevalence, diagnosis, and treatment options. The authors note that large randomized trials of medications specifically in adolescents have not yet been conducted.

## What they found

At least 20% of adolescents experience moderate-to-severe premenstrual symptoms. PMDD prevalence in teenagers is likely equal to or higher than in adults. Lifestyle interventions (education, calcium intake, exercise, stress reduction) can improve mild PMS. Severe PMS and PMDD usually require medication: SSRIs (fluoxetine and escitalopram) are safe in teens, or hormonal contraceptives, or GnRH agonists.

## What it means for you

Premenstrual disorders are common in teenagers and treatable with lifestyle changes for mild cases and medication for severe cases. The main limitation is that no large medication trials have been done specifically in teenagers, so treatment recommendations are adapted from adult studies.

20%

adolescents with moderate-to-severe symptoms

equal or higher

PMDD prevalence in teens versus adults

## About the study

Original title Premenstrual dysphoric disorder and severe premenstrual syndrome in adolescents Authors Rapkin AJ, Mikacich JA Journal Paediatric drugs Year 2013 Study design Randomised trial What was tested Various treatments reviewed: education, calcium, exercise, stress reduction, SSRIs, hormonal contraceptives, GnRH agonists Read the paper [doi.org/10.1007/s40272-013-0018-4](https://doi.org/10.1007/s40272-013-0018-4)

## Topics

[Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pms/)[Premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pmdd/)[Low mood and depression](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-depression-mood/)[SSRIs and antidepressants](https://niyora.com/research/topics/treatment-ssri/)[Oral contraceptives and drospirenone](https://niyora.com/research/topics/treatment-hormonal-contraceptives/)[GnRH agonists and ovarian suppression](https://niyora.com/research/topics/treatment-gnrh/)[Calcium](https://niyora.com/research/topics/treatment-calcium/)[Major depressive disorder](https://niyora.com/research/topics/comorbidity-major-depression/)[Adolescents and young people](https://niyora.com/research/topics/life-area-adolescents/)

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.

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