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.
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