Randomised trial, 2008
Does Femal help with sleep problems and PMS symptoms?
Yes. Femal significantly reduced premenstrual sleep disturbances. In women whose main symptom was irritability, Femal also reduced overall PMS symptoms.
What they did
Randomized controlled trial where 50 women took Femal 160 mg twice daily and 51 took placebo for 4 menstrual cycles. Researchers measured sleep disturbances and overall PMS symptoms.
What they found
Femal significantly reduced premenstrual sleep disturbances compared to placebo. In a subgroup of women with irritability as their main symptom cluster, Femal also significantly reduced their overall PMS symptom scores. No serious adverse events were reported.
What it means for you
Femal, a pollen-based herbal product, appears to help with sleep problems before the period. It may help overall PMS symptoms in women whose main complaint is irritability. The benefit for overall symptoms was not seen in women whose main symptom was depression.
101
women studied
160 mg
Femal dose (twice daily)
4
menstrual cycles of treatment
About the study
- Original title
- The efficacy of Femal in women with premenstrual syndrome: a randomised, double-blind, parallel-group, placebo-controlled, multicentre study
- Authors
- Gerhardsen G, Hansen AV, Killi M et al.
- Journal
- Advances in therapy
- Year
- 2008
- Study design
- Randomised trial
- Participants
- 51
- What was tested
- Femal 160 mg taken twice daily for 4 menstrual cycles
- Read the paper
- doi.org/10.1007/s12325-008-0072-4
Topics
Related studies
Randomised trial, 2012
Does Vitex agnus castus work for PMS, and what dose is best?
Randomised trial, 2010
Does Vitex agnus castus (chasteberry) reduce PMS symptoms in Chinese women?
Randomised trial, 2001
Does agnus castus (Vitex) fruit extract reduce premenstrual syndrome symptoms?
Survey study, 2025
Can a chatbot help monitor PMS symptoms over time?
Review, 2023
Can herbs and supplements help with PMS symptoms?
Non-randomised trial, 2021
Does a combination of exercise, ginger milk, and massage help premenstrual syndrome?