---
title: What treatments work for premenstrual syndrome? | Niyora
description: Several treatments reduce PMS symptoms according to controlled studies: SSRIs, some birth control pills, hormone injections, calcium, chasteberry, and cogniti
url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/therapeutic-management-of-premenstrual-syndrome-2010/
---

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- What treatments work for premenstrual syndrome?

Randomised trial, 2010

# What treatments work for premenstrual syndrome?

Several treatments reduce PMS symptoms according to controlled studies: SSRIs, some birth control pills, hormone injections, calcium, chasteberry, and cognitive-behavioral therapy. However, about 40% of women don't respond to current treatments.

 Strong study design

Reproductive-age women with PMS (from reviewed studies)

## What they did

Reviewed published studies from PubMed about PMS treatments, focusing on controlled trials and meta-analyses that compared treatments to placebo.

## What they found

Antidepressants called SSRIs reduce PMS symptoms compared to placebo. Some birth control pills and hormone injections showed effectiveness, especially for women wanting both contraception and symptom relief. Non-medication treatments that worked included calcium supplements, chasteberry, and cognitive-behavioral therapy. However, about 40% of women with PMS do not respond to currently available treatments.

## What it means for you

Many women can be helped with available treatments, but new options are needed for the 40% who don't respond. The review covered studies on reproductive-age women from different populations.

25%

Women who may need treatment for PMS

40%

Women who don't respond to current treatments

## About the study

Original title Therapeutic management of premenstrual syndrome Authors Freeman EW Journal Expert opinion on pharmacotherapy Year 2010 Study design Randomised trial What was tested SSRIs, some birth control pills, hormone injections, calcium supplements, chasteberry, cognitive-behavioral therapy Read the paper [doi.org/10.1517/14656566.2010.509344](https://doi.org/10.1517/14656566.2010.509344)

## Topics

[Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pms/)[Cognition, concentration and memory](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-cognition/)[SSRIs and antidepressants](https://niyora.com/research/topics/treatment-ssri/)[Oral contraceptives and drospirenone](https://niyora.com/research/topics/treatment-hormonal-contraceptives/)[GnRH agonists and ovarian suppression](https://niyora.com/research/topics/treatment-gnrh/)[Cognitive behavioral therapy](https://niyora.com/research/topics/treatment-cbt/)[Diet and nutrition](https://niyora.com/research/topics/treatment-diet/)[Calcium](https://niyora.com/research/topics/treatment-calcium/)[Vitex agnus-castus (chasteberry)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/treatment-vitex/)[Other herbal medicine](https://niyora.com/research/topics/treatment-herbal-other/)

Research tells you what helps on average. Niyora helps on the day it hits.

Calm down, see it another way, and decide what to say, with a PMS and PMDD app built by a doctor.

## Related studies

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Review, 2017

What causes PMDD and what are the best treatments?

Systematic review, 2007

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What are the causes, diagnosis, and treatments for PMS and PMDD?

Review, 2023

Can herbs and supplements help with PMS symptoms?

Non-randomised trial, 2020

What treatments help premenstrual syndrome?

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