---
title: How can we diagnose PMS and what causes it? | Niyora
description: Ovulation and the hormone progestagen appear necessary for PMS. A GnRH agonist drug helped relieve symptoms better than placebo, with most patients no longer
url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/the-premenstrual-syndrome-a-study-of-its-diagnosis-and-pathogenesis-1989/
---

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- How can we diagnose PMS and what causes it?

Survey study, 1989

# How can we diagnose PMS and what causes it?

Ovulation and the hormone progestagen appear necessary for PMS. A GnRH agonist drug helped relieve symptoms better than placebo, with most patients no longer showing cyclic symptoms on the active drug.

 Moderate study design

82 patients for diagnostic development; 22 postmenopausal women; 26 PMS patients in drug trial

## What they did

Researchers developed a diagnostic method using 82 patients' daily symptom tracking. They studied 22 postmenopausal women on hormone therapy and conducted a double-blind cross-over trial of GnRH agonist (buserelin 400 μg daily intranasally) versus placebo in 26 PMS patients.

## What they found

Three PMS groups were identified by symptom patterns. In 8 women with both ovulatory and anovulatory cycles, symptoms disappeared in anovulatory cycles. Postmenopausal women given estradiol plus progestagen developed PMS-like symptoms; those on estradiol alone did not. The active drug gave significantly better symptom relief than placebo, with 19 of 23 patients on active drug showing non-cyclic symptom patterns.

## What it means for you

Ovulation and progestagen appear necessary for PMS. A hormone-related drug helped more than placebo, though placebo also had effects. This complex study mixed observations with a controlled trial, making results harder to interpret.

8

women with both ovulatory and anovulatory cycles

19 of 23

on active drug showed non-cyclic symptoms

400 μg

daily dose of buserelin

## About the study

Original title The Premenstrual Syndrome: A Study Of Its Diagnosis And Pathogenesis Authors Stefan Hammarbäck Journal Acta Obstetricia Et Gynecologica Scandinavica Year 1989 Study design Survey study Participants 124 What was tested GnRH agonist (buserelin) 400 μg daily intranasally versus placebo in double-blind cross-over trial Read the paper [doi.org/10.3109/00016348909156498](https://doi.org/10.3109/00016348909156498)

## Topics

[Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pms/)[Cognition, concentration and memory](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-cognition/)[GnRH agonists and ovarian suppression](https://niyora.com/research/topics/treatment-gnrh/)

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