Survey study, 2017
Do complementary medicine treatments work as well as medications for premenstrual syndrome?
Some women using complementary medicine achieved moderate symptom relief, and many women taking medications experienced side effects. However, this study only observed what women used, not whether treatments truly worked in controlled conditions.
What they did
Researchers surveyed 160 women of reproductive age in Ukraine between May 2014 and April 2015. They asked about PMS symptoms, whether they had been diagnosed by a doctor, what treatments they were using (medications or complementary alternative medicine), and whether they experienced side effects or symptom improvement.
What they found
According to symptoms alone, 29% of women had moderate or severe PMS, compared to 26% previously diagnosed by a doctor. Of women using pharmaceutical treatments (painkillers, contraceptives, antidepressants), 30% experienced major side effects including nausea, insomnia, and headache. Only 37.5% of the total study population reported using complementary alternative medicine therapies. Of those using complementary medicine, 22% achieved moderate symptom relief over the long term.
What it means for you
Many women have side effects from medications for PMS, and some try complementary treatments instead. However, this study only observed what women were doing without comparing treatments in a controlled way, so we cannot say whether complementary or pharmaceutical treatments are actually more effective.
29%
With moderate or severe PMS
30%
Medication users with side effects
22%
CAM users with symptom relief
About the study
- Original title
- Premenstrual Syndrome: Symptomatic and Diagnosed Prevalence, Dualistic Treatment Approach - A Cross-Sectional Study in Ukraine
- Authors
- Crow EM, Jeannot E
- Journal
- International journal of preventive medicine
- Year
- 2017
- Study design
- Survey study
- Participants
- 160
- What was tested
- Comparison of pharmaceutical agents versus complementary alternative medicine therapies
- Open access
- Yes
- Read the paper
- doi.org/10.4103/ijpvm.ijpvm_18_16
Topics
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