---
title: Do NSAIDs like ibuprofen help with period pain and PMS? | Niyora
description: NSAIDs definitely help with period pain, but there is not yet enough evidence that they help with premenstrual syndrome.
url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/treatment-of-dysmenorrhoea-and-premenstrual-syndrome-with-non-steroidal-anti-1988/
---

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- Do NSAIDs like ibuprofen help with period pain and PMS?

Review, 1988

# Do NSAIDs like ibuprofen help with period pain and PMS?

NSAIDs definitely help with period pain, but there is not yet enough evidence that they help with premenstrual syndrome.

 Early or limited evidence

General population (review of existing knowledge)

## What they did

This was a review article. The authors examined scientific evidence about whether non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs like ibuprofen) help both period pain and PMS.

## What they found

NSAIDs are effective for period pain because period pain is caused by too much of a substance called prostaglandin F2 alpha. However, scientists still do not understand what causes PMS, and evidence that NSAIDs help with PMS symptoms has not been established.

## What it means for you

We know NSAIDs help period cramps because we understand the cause. We do not yet know enough about PMS to say whether NSAIDs help with its symptoms.

## About the study

Original title Treatment of dysmenorrhoea and premenstrual syndrome with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs Authors Shapiro SS Journal Drugs Year 1988 Study design Review What was tested none Read the paper [doi.org/10.2165/00003495-198836040-00005](https://doi.org/10.2165/00003495-198836040-00005)

## Topics

[Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pms/)[Dysmenorrhea and period pain](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-dysmenorrhea/)

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.

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