---
title: Does progesterone help premenstrual symptoms? | Niyora
description: Yes. Oral micronised progesterone reduced most premenstrual symptoms over placebo, with strongest benefits in the first month.
url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/progesterone-and-the-premenstrual-syndrome-a-double-blind-crossover-trial-1985/
---

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- Does progesterone help premenstrual symptoms?

Randomised trial, 1985

# Does progesterone help premenstrual symptoms?

Yes. Oral micronised progesterone reduced most premenstrual symptoms over placebo, with strongest benefits in the first month.

 Moderate study design

23 women with premenstrual complaints

## What they did

A double-blind randomized crossover trial with 23 women. Each woman received 2 months of oral micronised progesterone and 2 months of placebo (order randomized). They completed interviews and multiple symptom questionnaires before and during treatment.

## What they found

Progesterone had an overall beneficial effect for most premenstrual symptoms except restlessness, positive moods, and sexual interest. Maximum improvement occurred in the first month of treatment. An appreciably beneficial effect of progesterone over placebo was visible after both one and two months of treatment for mood and some physical symptoms.

## What it means for you

Oral progesterone may help many premenstrual symptoms. The study is small (23 women) and more research is needed to determine the best duration of treatment. Use of standard validated questionnaires is a strength.

23

Women studied

2 months

Duration of each treatment phase

first month

When maximum improvement occurred

## About the study

Original title Progesterone and the premenstrual syndrome: a double blind crossover trial Authors Dennerstein L, Spencer-Gardner C, Gotts G et al. Journal British medical journal (Clinical research ed.) Year 1985 Study design Randomised trial What was tested Oral micronised progesterone (2 months) versus placebo (2 months) Open access Yes Read the paper [doi.org/10.1136/bmj.290.6482.1617](https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.290.6482.1617)

## Topics

[Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pms/)

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