Survey study, 2024
What causes PMS and which treatments actually help?
This review suggests PMS is linked to changes in brain chemicals like GABA and the hormone-related substance allopregnanolone, and that several treatments (SSRIs, hormonal options, neurosteroids, supplements, therapy) can help, but no single treatment suits everyone.
What they did
This is a review article, not a new experiment. The authors looked at existing research on why PMS happens and compared different treatment approaches, both medication and non-medication based.
What they found
PMS affects an estimated 47.8% of women of reproductive age worldwide, with severe symptoms in 3-8% of women, badly affecting daily life. The authors point to GABA signaling changes and shifts in neurosteroids, especially allopregnanolone, as likely causes. They reviewed treatments including SSRIs, hormonal agents, neurosteroids, supplements, and therapy-based approaches.
What it means for you
There is no one best treatment for PMS; doctors need to choose medication based on each woman's own situation to get the best result. The main limit is that this is a summary of other people's research, not a new trial, so it does not give fresh evidence on how well any single treatment works.
47.8%
Global PMS prevalence
3-8%
Women with severe symptoms
About the study
- Original title
- Premenstrual syndrome: new insights into etiology and review of treatment methods
- Authors
- Modzelewski S, Oracz A, Żukow X et al.
- Journal
- Frontiers in psychiatry
- Year
- 2024
- Study design
- Survey study
- What was tested
- Review compares SSRIs, hormonal treatments, neurosteroids, supplements, and therapy approaches.
- Open access
- Yes
- Read the paper
- doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2024.1363875
Original abstract
Premenstrual syndrome (PMS) is a common disorder affecting women of reproductive age, with an estimated global prevalence of 47.8%, with severe symptoms occurring in 3-8%, significantly affecting daily functioning. GABA conductance and changes in neurosteroid levels, particularly allopregnanolone, are suspected to play a substantial role in the disorder's etiology. In this paper, we provide an overview of recent reports on the etiology and recognized therapeutic approaches, encompassing both pharmacological and non-pharmacological interventions. Our examination includes studies on SSRIs, hormonal agents, neurosteroids, supplementation, and therapeutic roles. We aim to determine the most favorable treatment regimen by comparing medication effects and alternative methods. The treatment of PMS is crucial for enhancing the quality of life for affected women. Medications used in PMS treatment should be individually selected to achieve the best therapeutic effect, considering the clinical situation of the patients.
Reproduced under CC-BY.
Topics
Related studies
Randomised trial, 2017
Does Sepranolone reduce symptoms of severe premenstrual syndrome (PMDD)?
Review, 2026
How well do SSRIs treat PMS?
Survey study, 2022
What causes PMS and PMDD and what new treatments are being studied?
Study, 2026
What treatments work for PMDD?
Review, 2025
What causes PMDD and why is it hard to function?
Randomised trial, 2024
Does sertraline change brain chemicals in people with PMDD, and does this relate to symptom improvement?