--- title: Does Vitex agnus-castus help cyclic breast pain? | Niyora description: Vitex appears moderately effective for reducing cyclic breast pain compared to placebo, works as well as some medications, and is safe with minimal side effec url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/vitex-agnus-castus-for-the-treatment-of-cyclic-mastalgia-a-systematic-review-and-2020/ --- - [Niyora](https://niyora.com/) - [Research](https://niyora.com/research/) - [Library](https://niyora.com/research/library/) - Does Vitex agnus-castus help cyclic breast pain? Systematic review, 2020 # Does Vitex agnus-castus help cyclic breast pain? Vitex appears moderately effective for reducing cyclic breast pain compared to placebo, works as well as some medications, and is safe with minimal side effects. Strong study design 718 women aged 18-45 with cyclic breast pain, from the meta-analysis; 25 studies total. ## What they did Systematic review and meta-analysis of 25 studies (17 randomized controlled trials and 8 non-randomized trials) testing Vitex agnus-castus for cyclic breast pain. The meta-analysis included 6 studies with 718 people total (356 taking Vitex, 362 taking placebo). ## What they found Vitex showed a moderate effect size (SMD 0.67) favoring it over placebo. Typical dosage was 20-40 mg per day for 3 months. Seven trials showed Vitex was as effective as pharmaceutical treatments including dopamine agonists, anti-inflammatory drugs, antidepressants, and hormonal contraceptives. Vitex was safe with only mild and reversible side effects. ## What it means for you Vitex may be a helpful option for cyclic breast pain, particularly because it appears safe and works similarly to medications. The main limitation is that most studies had unclear risk of bias because they didn't report enough details about how they were conducted. 25 Studies reviewed 718 People in the meta-analysis 0.67 Effect size (moderate effectiveness) ## About the study Original title Vitex Agnus-Castus for the Treatment of Cyclic Mastalgia: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis Authors Ooi SL, Watts S, McClean R et al. Journal Journal of women's health (2002) Year 2020 Study design Systematic review What was tested Vitex agnus-castus at typical doses of 20-40 mg per day for 3 months. Open access Yes Read the paper [doi.org/10.1089/jwh.2019.7770](https://doi.org/10.1089/jwh.2019.7770) Original abstract Background: Cyclic mastalgia (CM) is premenstrual bilateral and diffuse breast pain that presents cyclically and affects women in their reproductive years. It may associate with latent hyperprolactinemia due to the insufficient inhibitory effect of dopamine on the pituitary gland. Vitex agnus-castus (VAC) is known for its dopaminergic activity and its possible actions on CM and latent hyperprolactinemia. However, the treatment effect of VAC on CM remains unclear. Materials and Methods: To perform a systematic review and meta-analysis of clinical trials that report on the efficacy of VAC treatment in CM patients, literature search was performed in major research databases. Results: This review includes 25 studies (17 randomized control trials plus eight nonrandomized trials). VAC was effective in relieving breast pain intensity and lowering the increased serum prolactin level in reproductive age CM patients (18-45 years) with or without premenstrual syndromes. Typical dosage was 20-40 mg/day with a treatment duration of 3 months. A conservative meta-analysis included only six studies ( n = 718, VAC = 356, placebo = 362) and revealed a moderate effect size (SMD: 0.67, 95% CI: 0.5-0.85) favoring VAC over a placebo. Seven trials demonstrated VAC to be a noninferior alternative to pharmaceutical therapies for CM, including dopamine agonists, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, serotonin reuptake inhibitors, and hormonal contraceptives. VAC was safe and associated with only mild and reversible adverse events. However, the risk of bias in most studies was unclear due to insufficient information. Conclusions: VAC is a safe and effective treatment option for CM. More high-quality clinical trials are needed to strengthen the evidence base. Reproduced under CC-BY. ## Topics [Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pms/)[Bloating, breast tenderness and physical symptoms](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-physical-symptoms/)[Pain and headache](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-pain/)[SSRIs and antidepressants](https://niyora.com/research/topics/treatment-ssri/)[Oral contraceptives and drospirenone](https://niyora.com/research/topics/treatment-hormonal-contraceptives/)[Vitex agnus-castus (chasteberry)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/treatment-vitex/)[Work and productivity](https://niyora.com/research/topics/life-area-work/) 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 Review, 2015 What do we know about PMS and PMDD and how are they treated? Systematic review, 2013 Does Vitex (chaste tree) help PMS and PMDD symptoms? 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