--- title: GnRH agonists and ovarian suppression: 245 studies, explained | Niyora description: 245 studies on gnrh agonists and ovarian suppression and PMS or PMDD, each summarised in plain English: what was tested, who took part, what they found and wh url: https://niyora.com/research/topics/treatment-gnrh/ --- - [Niyora](https://niyora.com/) - [Research](https://niyora.com/research/) - [Library](https://niyora.com/research/library/) - GnRH agonists and ovarian suppression # GnRH agonists and ovarian suppression: what the research says 245 studies on gnrh agonists and ovarian suppression in PMS and PMDD, each explained in plain English. 28 of them use the strongest designs: randomised trials and systematic reviews. Review 63 Randomised trial 51 Survey study 36 Study 32 Case report 14 Cohort study 13 Systematic review, 2024 What are the best treatments for PMDD and PMS? SSRIs (antidepressants) and combined oral contraceptives (birth control pills) have the strongest evidence. For difficult cases, GnRH agonists and surgery work. Some alternatives like acupuncture and yoga show promise but need better quality research. Systematic review, 2023 What hormonal treatments have been tested for PMDD, menstrual migraine, and catamenial epilepsy? Hormonal treatments have been tested 56 times for premenstrual mood disorder, 21 times for menstrual migraine, and 8 times for catamenial epilepsy. Combined oral contraceptives were a frequent focus. Guideline, 2023 How are GnRH agonists used to treat PMDD that doesn't respond to standard medications? GnRH agonists combined with hormone replacement are effective for severe PMDD that doesn't respond to first-line treatments, but many doctors don't know how to use this option. Review, 2022 What causes severe PMS and what treatments work? Severe PMS is caused by hormone changes and brain chemistry problems. Treatments that stop ovulation with hormones or increase serotonin with SSRIs both reduce symptoms. Systematic review, 2022 What are the best treatments for PMDD and PMS? SSRIs (antidepressants) and combined oral contraceptives (birth control pills) have the strongest evidence. For difficult cases, GnRH agonists and surgery work. Some alternatives like acupuncture and yoga show promise but need better quality research. Review, 2018 What are the most effective treatments for premenstrual syndrome and PMDD? Serotonin reuptake inhibitors and contraceptives with shortened or no hormone-free interval are the most effective treatments. Some women who do not respond may benefit from GnRH agonist treatment. Review, 2018 Which women are most likely to experience hot flashes during menopause? Up to 80% of women experience hot flashes during menopause, lasting about 10 years on average. Black and Hispanic women are more likely to experience them, while Asian women are less likely. Study, 2015 What are the different types of premenstrual problems and how should they be diagnosed? There are different types of premenstrual disorders, and doctors should use specific methods to diagnose PMS and distinguish it from other conditions. Review, 2015 What do we know about PMS and PMDD and how are they treated? PMS affects 30 to 40 percent of reproductive-age women and PMDD affects 3 to 8 percent. Serotonergic antidepressants are the most effective treatment, but oral contraceptives, lifestyle changes, cognitive behavioral therapy, and herbal supplements are also available options. Randomised trial, 2012 Do hysterectomy or hormonal IUDs reduce premenstrual symptoms in women with heavy periods? Both treatments significantly reduced premenstrual symptoms by 6 months with similar effectiveness. However, the study involved women treated for heavy periods, not those specifically diagnosed with PMS. Survey study, 2011 Is premenstrual syndrome related to major depression? Yes. Women with moderate to severe PMS are significantly more likely to have depression (11.3% to 24.6% depending on PMS severity). Women with both conditions are more severely impaired than those with either alone. 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. Review, 2008 What hormonal treatments help PMS? PMS appears to be caused by the body's sensitivity to progesterone after ovulation, though the exact cause is unknown. Treatment works by either stopping ovulation or reducing how sensitive the body is to progesterone. Review, 2008 What medications are FDA-approved for treating PMDD? Three selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs, a type of antidepressant) and a low-dose birth control pill containing drospirenone are FDA-approved for PMDD. SSRIs can be taken just during the two weeks before menstruation. Systematic review, 2007 What treatments work for premenstrual syndrome? Many treatments have been studied for PMS, but researchers face a major challenge: there is no standard way to measure symptom severity, making it difficult to know which treatments truly work. Randomised trial, 2005 Does stopping ovulation help irritable bowel syndrome that gets worse during the menstrual cycle? Yes, stopping ovulation with leuprolide acetate significantly improved bowel symptoms related to the menstrual cycle. Adding tibolone (a hormone) did not improve bowel symptoms further but did improve quality of life more than leuprolide alone. Review, 2004 What is PMDD and how is it treated? PMDD is a severe form of PMS with physical and behavioral symptoms during the second half of the menstrual cycle. Treatment starts with lifestyle changes and over-the-counter medications, and includes antidepressants if needed. Review, 2004 How should doctors diagnose and treat PMS and PMDD? Doctors can now diagnose these conditions using specific prospective symptom tracking and have several evidence-based treatments. Antidepressants that increase serotonin, especially when taken only during the luteal phase, work best for severe symptoms. Systematic review, 2004 Do gonadotropin-releasing hormone injections work for premenstrual syndrome? Yes, GnRH injections significantly improve PMS symptoms. Adding hormones does not reduce their effectiveness. Randomised trial, 2003 What treatments work for PMS and PMDD? Several treatments work. Non-drug options include cognitive behavioral therapy, exercise, and supplements like calcium and magnesium. Many studies support SSRIs (taken daily or only before menstruation). Hormonal treatments that stop ovulation also help. Review, 2002 What treatments work best for PMS and PMDD? Ovulation suppression and SSRIs (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor antidepressants) are the two most effective treatments. SSRIs work particularly well for PMDD and can be taken only during the luteal phase of the cycle. Review, 2001 What are PMS and PMDD, and how are they treated? PMS is a cluster of symptoms occurring 7 to 14 days before menstruation. PMDD is the most severe form. Both should be treated first with lifestyle changes like exercise and stress management, with medication added if needed. Randomised trial, 1997 Does tamoxifen or danazol help severe cyclical breast pain? Yes. Both drugs reduced pain more than placebo during treatment, but tamoxifen was more effective and longer-lasting, with 53% still symptom-free 12 months after stopping. Study, 1997 What medications work best for treating PMS? SSRIs like fluoxetine and benzodiazepines like alprazolam have clear benefits for PMS. GnRH agonists also work well but cause too many side effects for routine use, and other drugs can treat specific symptoms like headaches or fluid retention. Randomised trial, 1997 What is the difference between PMS and PMDD, and how should they be treated? PMDD is a severe condition distinct from PMS that can be diagnosed using standardized criteria and daily symptom tracking for at least two menstrual cycles. Treatment options include lifestyle changes, SSRIs, or surgeries that stop ovulation, all proven effective in randomized trials. Randomised trial, 1993 Does endometrial resection work as well as hysterectomy for heavy periods? Endometrial resection was almost as satisfying as hysterectomy, with 84 out of 99 women satisfied versus 89 out of 95 with hysterectomy. However, hysterectomy was better for reducing premenstrual symptoms like painful periods, bloating, and breast tenderness. Review, 1989 Are mental health conditions linked to the reproductive cycle? Psychiatric disorders like PMS and postpartum depression are linked to the menstrual cycle and pregnancy. But research on PMS is still early and many questions remain. Randomised trial, 1989 Does danazol help severe PMS symptoms? Yes, most PMS symptoms improved more with danazol than placebo, though there were minor side effects. A double-blind controlled study provides good evidence. Survey study, 2026 What are the causes, diagnosis, and treatments for PMS and PMDD? This review consolidates what doctors know about PMS and PMDD. PMS affects 12-98% of reproductive-age women and PMDD affects 2-5%. Treatments range from lifestyle changes, therapy, and vitamins to medications like SSRIs and oral contraceptives. Study, 2026 What treatments work for PMDD? SSRIs (a type of antidepressant) and certain types of birth control are the main first-line treatments. New treatments targeting brain chemistry are being developed. Cohort study, 2025 Do estrogen and progesterone each trigger PMDD symptoms differently? Yes, likely. Both hormones triggered mood symptoms in women with PMDD when reintroduced after suppression, but progesterone appeared more closely linked to irritability and mood swings than estrogen. Systematic review, 2025 Do drugs that stop ovulation help women with PMS? The abstract is incomplete and does not provide the main results, so no clear answer can be determined from the information given. Randomised trial, 2024 What causes PMS and PMDD and how are they treated? PMS and PMDD happen when hormone changes interact with brain chemicals during the menstrual cycle. Treatments include birth control pills, progesterone, SSRIs (a type of antidepressant), and hormone injections for severe cases, though some treatments still need proof from rigorous trials. Cohort study, 2022 What are PMS and PMDD and how should they be diagnosed and treated? PMS involves 1-4 symptoms or 5 or more physical or behavioral symptoms. PMDD requires 5 or more symptoms with at least one mood symptom like irritability or mood swings. Treatments include exercise, cognitive behavioral therapy, and medications like SSRIs and hormonal contraceptives. Randomised trial, 2020 Do steroid metabolites differ between women with PMDD and those without? Yes. Women with PMDD show different patterns of certain steroid metabolites, particularly sulfated forms, which may relate to how their bodies process hormones. Review, 2018 What treatments work for PMDD and severe premenstrual symptoms? This review examines evidence for many treatments including antidepressants, hormonal therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy, lifestyle changes, and herbal remedies for PMDD. The review notes that many women with severe symptoms do not meet full PMDD criteria but still benefit from treatment. Survey study, 2018 What causes irregular periods? About 14.3% of Korean women aged 19-40 have irregular periods. Stress and depressive mood are the main causes, not medical conditions. Stress is the strongest factor. Case-control study, 2017 Are PMDD symptoms triggered by changes in hormone levels or by having high hormone levels? PMDD symptoms are triggered by the rapid increase in hormone levels after ovulation, not by having those hormones at steady high levels. Once hormone levels stay stable, symptoms improve. Randomised trial, 2017 Do hormones process differently in women with PMDD? Women with PMDD process certain sulfated steroid hormones differently than others, especially estradiol and DHEA metabolites. The study was very small and tested only women who were known to be hormone-sensitive, so the findings may not apply to all PMDD. Cohort study, 2016 How often do doctors diagnose PMS and what treatments do they prescribe? PMS diagnoses recorded in UK primary care fell dramatically from 8.43 per 1000 women in 1995 to 1.72 in 2013. Treatment shifted from progestogens and vitamin B6 to SSRIs and oral contraceptives. Guideline, 2013 What do experts agree is the best way to treat PMS and PMDD? A group of international experts agreed that treatment should start with careful diagnosis, and that the main options work either by calming brain serotonin activity or by stopping ovulation, with some other approaches worth more study. Randomised trial, 2012 Is the stress hormone system different in women with premenstrual dysphoria? The stress hormone system (HPA axis) functions normally in women with PMD, just like in women without it. This suggests PMD may have a different biological cause than depression. Progesterone increased stress hormones more than estradiol. Review, 2012 Is PMDD a separate disease from PMS? Yes. Research confirms PMDD is a discrete disorder with a good prognosis when appropriately diagnosed and treated. Review, 2012 Is depression linked to hormonal changes during the menstrual cycle, pregnancy, and menopause? Yes. Depression tied to hormonal changes appears in the same women across three life stages (premenstrual, after birth, and menopause). Transdermal estrogen patches may be more effective as first-line treatment than antidepressants. Review, 2012 Does stopping ovulation help premenstrual symptoms? Yes, transdermal estrogen (patch, gel, or implant) can stop the cyclical hormone changes that cause premenstrual symptoms. However, women usually need monthly progestogen and may experience side effects. Randomised trial, 2009 Which hormone add-back therapy works best with GnRH agonist for PMDD? The lowest dose of estradiol with progesterone worked better. The highest dose (1.5mg estradiol with 400mg progesterone) actually caused more symptom recurrence than lower doses or estradiol alone. Case-control study, 2007 Are there genes that increase the risk of PMDD? Genetic variations in the ESR1 gene (which codes for estrogen receptor alpha) appear linked to PMDD mood symptoms, suggesting genetic factors contribute to who develops the condition. This was found in a study of women with PMDD and unaffected controls. Randomised trial, 2006 Do different types of PMS symptoms respond better to different medicines? Yes. Different medications work best for different symptoms. SSRIs help irritability and anxiety. Birth control works broadly. Other drugs target specific symptoms. However, current treatments help fewer than 60% of women. Review, 2006 What treatments work for premenstrual disorders? Several treatments work. Three SSRIs are FDA-approved for PMDD. Exercise, diet changes, and therapy also help some women, but no single treatment works for everyone. Review, 2005 Can controlling hormones during the luteal phase improve fertility treatment outcomes? Yes. Lowering the hormone FSH during the luteal phase reduced size variation among egg follicles and improved their coordination during fertility treatment. Cohort study, 2004 Does a premenstrual GnRH antagonist injection reduce variation in egg follicle sizes for fertility treatment? Yes, in 25 women, a single premenstrual GnRH antagonist injection reduced the sizes of early egg follicles and the differences between them. This may help improve fertility treatment, though results are from a single center. Study, 2003 Does the stress response system work differently in women with PMS across the menstrual cycle? Women with PMS failed to show the normal increased stress hormone response during the luteal phase that women without PMS show. Progesterone, not estrogen, appears to control this stress response. Survey study, 2003 Does migraine risk change during menopause in women with PMS? Yes. In women with PMS, migraine is highest in late perimenopause at 31% and lowest after menopause at 7%. Hormone levels also affect migraine risk. Review, 2003 What treatments work best for PMS and PMDD? There is no single best treatment. For mild PMS, lifestyle changes help. For moderate symptoms, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) like fluoxetine and sertraline are most effective. Calcium and evening primrose oil may offer modest benefit. Randomised trial, 2003 Does leptin explain why women develop PMS symptoms? Probably not. Leptin levels did not change with successful PMS treatment, so leptin may not be the cause of PMS. Review, 2003 What role do hormones play in PMS and how should we treat it? Female hormones trigger PMS by affecting brain chemistry, especially the serotonin and GABA systems. SSRIs and medications that stop ovulation are the most effective treatments. Randomised trial, 2002 What treatments work best for cyclical breast pain? Initial treatments like reassurance, proper bra fit, reducing caffeine, and primrose oil should be tried first. Medications like danazol work but often cause side effects. Review, 2002 What drugs work for PMDD? Serotonin-based antidepressants, especially SSRIs taken only during the luteal phase, are the first-line treatment for PMDD. Progesterone is not effective. Review, 2002 What treatments work for PMDD? PMDD affects 2 to 10 percent of women of reproductive age. Try lifestyle changes first, and if that does not work, SSRIs taken just during the luteal phase are very effective with minimal side effects. Study, 2002 Does a protein called IL-6 in the uterus change throughout the menstrual cycle? Yes. IL-6 levels in the uterus are low in the first half of the cycle and increase 5 to 10 times in the second half, especially around the time for pregnancy implantation and before the period. Randomised trial, 2001 Do women with PMS have different brain receptors that change with hormones? No. Receptor density did not differ significantly between women with PMS and controls, and did not change when estradiol or progesterone were given. Randomised trial, 2001 Does adding tibolone to a hormone treatment help severe PMS? Adding tibolone to leuprolide acetate (a GnRH agonist) did not reduce the hormone's benefits and may reduce hot flushes. The hormone treatment significantly improved psychological and physical PMS symptoms. Case-control study, 2000 Do women with PMS have different hormone levels than women without PMS? Yes. Women with PMS have significantly lower levels of allopregnanolone and progesterone, especially during the second half of the menstrual cycle. Their bodies also showed a weaker response to a hormone stimulation test. Review, 2000 Do common diseases get worse before a woman's period? Yes. A significant number of women with asthma, arthritis, migraine, diabetes, depression, or epilepsy report that their symptoms get worse before their period, though doctors do not yet fully understand why. Randomised trial, 2000 What non-antidepressant treatments might help PMS? A study of 466 women found calcium was effective at reducing emotional, behavioral, and physical PMS symptoms. Cognitive therapy, light therapy, and tryptophan also showed promise in early trials. Review, 2000 How should doctors diagnose and treat PMDD? Doctors should use self-report tools combined with diagnostic criteria and rule out other conditions. Treatment options include exercise, diet changes, antidepressants, anti-anxiety medications, and ovulation-suppressing drugs. Survey study, 1999 How common are menstrual problems in teenage girls and do they relate to early puberty? Menstrual pain was very common (69.60%), and over half the girls (51.20%) had PMS symptoms. Girls who started menstruating earlier experienced significantly more menstrual pain. Study, 1999 Does hormone treatment help women with period problems? Yes. Of 201 women who received GnRH treatment, 74% reported it helped them. Randomised trial, 1999 Does danazol given only during the luteal phase help PMS and breast pain? Danazol was highly effective for premenstrual breast pain but not for general PMS symptoms, with minimal side effects. Randomised trial, 1999 Does adding estrogen and progesterone to a GnRH agonist drug improve PMS treatment? No. Adding estrogen and progesterone actually reduced the benefit of the GnRH agonist alone for severe PMS. Randomised trial, 1999 Does a low-dose GnRH agonist relieve premenstrual symptoms while keeping regular periods? Low-dose GnRH agonist significantly relieved irritability and depression, and improved physical symptoms like swelling and headache. However, it stopped ovulation in 56% of women, making it unsuitable for long-term use if you want regular cycles. Randomised trial, 1998 Is PMS caused by abnormal hormone levels? No. Women with PMS have normal hormone levels but respond abnormally to them. When hormones are suppressed, symptoms improve. When hormones return, symptoms recur only in women with PMS. Review, 1998 How does the menstrual cycle affect other medical conditions? Many medical conditions worsen at specific points in the menstrual cycle because of sudden changes in hormone levels. This includes migraines, epilepsy, asthma, arthritis, irritable bowel syndrome, and diabetes. Study, 1998 Which hormonal treatments work best for PMS? Treatments that suppress ovulation generally work well for PMS. Progesterone has not been shown to work better than placebo in well-controlled studies, despite being widely promoted. Randomised trial, 1997 Does a GnRH agonist help PMS symptoms? Yes, leuprolide significantly reduced PMS symptoms in women whose symptoms were limited to the premenstrual phase. It did not help women whose depression occurred throughout their cycle. Randomised trial, 1996 What is premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) and what treatments work for it? PMDD is a severe form of premenstrual mood disturbance, separate from milder PMS, and this review reports that SSRIs and treatments that stop ovulation (hormonal or surgical) have been shown effective in placebo-controlled trials. Review, 1995 What is premenstrual syndrome (PMS) and how should women be treated for it? PMS is a well-defined cluster of mood symptoms that disrupt daily functioning. Most women with PMS can be helped, primarily with serotonin reuptake inhibitors, which are effective and well tolerated. Randomised trial, 1995 Does danazol help severe PMS? Yes, danazol significantly reduced severe PMS symptoms compared to placebo, with 43.8 percent of women becoming symptom-free versus 8.3 percent on placebo. Study, 1995 What causes PMS and how can doctors treat it? PMS develops when hormone changes interact with brain chemistry, especially involving serotonin. Medications that work on these systems have been shown to help in rigorous studies. Review, 1994 What medications work for PMS and are they safe? Three classes of drugs have proven effective: benzodiazepines (especially alprazolam), SSRIs (especially fluoxetine), and GnRH agonists. However, all have significant side effects that doctors must weigh against benefits. Case-control study, 1994 Do women with a history of PMS have higher risk of osteoporosis? Women who had PMS symptoms or irregular periods in the past were more likely to develop osteoporosis after menopause. However, because women had to remember their past symptoms years later, the accuracy of these results is uncertain. Randomised trial, 1994 Does depot leuprolide relieve premenstrual syndrome, and does depression affect how well it works? Depot leuprolide was significantly more effective than placebo for women without severe depression. For those with moderate depression it helped somewhat, but for those with severe depression it did not work at all. Randomised trial, 1994 Does stopping ovulation help severe premenstrual tension? Yes, a drug that stops ovulation (goserelin) reduced breast discomfort and swelling significantly. It also reduced mood swings, though the effect on mood was weaker and had a strong placebo component. Review, 1994 What is premenstrual syndrome and what are the main treatment options? PMS is a cyclical condition involving mood, emotional, and physical symptoms. We do not know what causes it. No single treatment works for everyone, but relaxation techniques and psychiatric medications have shown the most recent progress. Review, 1993 Can GnRH agonists plus hormone replacement help severe PMS? Evidence suggests that GnRH agonists combined with estrogen-progestin replacement can substantially reduce severe PMS symptoms, particularly in women who do not respond to fluoxetine or alprazolam. Survey study, 1993 How common are period-related symptoms in Italian women, and do they differ from American women? Period-related symptoms are common in Italian women, occurring most often during the menstrual phase. Italian women reported more symptoms overall than American women, though the difference was smaller for premenstrual symptoms. Review, 1993 What are the medication options for treating PMS? PMS can be treated with hormonal medications that alter the menstrual cycle, mood drugs, diuretics for fluid retention, and pain relievers for headaches. Treatment should start with simpler measures and consider side effects. Randomised trial, 1993 Does long-acting GnRH agonist injection help severe premenstrual syndrome? Despite changing hormone levels as expected, the injection did not reduce symptoms more than saline placebo injections. This suggests either a strong placebo effect or that this treatment is not effective. Cohort study, 1993 Does rollerball endometrial ablation work for very heavy periods? Yes. Most women had much lighter periods or stopped bleeding entirely, and many experienced less period pain and fewer premenstrual symptoms. Randomised trial, 1993 Can estrogen prevent bone loss from GnRH analogue treatment? Yes. Adding estrogen therapy prevented the significant bone loss that occurred when women took the GnRH drug Zoladex alone. Cohort study, 1992 Is hormone control by the brain different in women with PMS? No. The pattern of hormone changes across the menstrual cycle was similar in women with PMS and controls, with only a minor difference in FSH during the mid-luteal phase. Study, 1991 Does stopping ovulation with danazol help severe PMS? Yes. When women took danazol and stopped ovulating, 20 out of 23 cycles had no symptoms, compared to 6 out of 32 cycles when they were still ovulating. This shows a clear difference. Randomised trial, 1991 Does danazol help severe premenstrual syndrome? Yes. Danazol was much more effective than placebo for overall symptoms and for specific symptoms including breast discomfort, irritability, mood swings, crying, low libido, and abdominal swelling. Review, 1991 Does progesterone or stopping your period treat PMS? Progesterone doesn't work better than placebo. Stopping your period with surgery or medication does treat PMS. Symptoms don't return when hormones are added back afterward. Review, 1990 How do hormones affect brain chemicals that control mood? Sex hormones change how the brain's serotonin system works across the menstrual cycle. Stopping ovulation with danazol eliminated premenstrual mood changes in studied women, showing a hormone-mood connection. Study, 1990 How much of PMS comes from your mind versus your body? Psychological factors are important. After hysterectomy when women no longer had periods, their premenstrual symptoms dropped significantly, suggesting that psychological factors played a major role before surgery. Cohort study, 1990 Does long-term estradiol implant therapy help PMS symptoms? Yes, all 50 patients had continued benefit for all symptoms over 5.6 years, with 74 to 96 percent relief depending on the symptom. However, about 58 percent developed progestin side effects, and 8 patients needed hysterectomy. 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. Randomised trial, 1988 Does stopping ovulation with buserelin help premenstrual tension syndrome? Yes, buserelin (which stops ovulation) worked significantly better than placebo and eliminated the monthly symptom pattern. This shows the menstrual cycle is the cause of these symptoms. Review, 1986 How should breast pain from PMS be treated? Breast pain is part of PMS. Many treatments exist but we do not have clear evidence about which ones work. Case report, 2026 Does surgery cure PMDD that doesn't respond to medication? In this one woman with severe treatment-resistant PMDD, removal of the uterus and ovaries led to long-term remission of symptoms, though she had severe depression immediately after surgery. We cannot say whether this would work for other women with PMDD. Randomised trial, 2026 Can a short, simple hormone test spot women whose mood is especially sensitive to hormone changes? A quick 7-day hormone test gave similar results to a much longer 4-month test in identifying hormone-sensitive women, but this was a very small pilot study, so it's an early, promising sign rather than a settled answer. Review, 2026 What causes PMDD and what treatments are available? PMDD seems to come from the body's abnormal response to hormone and brain-chemical shifts, shaped by genes, stress, immune function and opioid pathways. Several treatments exist, from SSRIs to surgery in severe cases, but this paper only summarises existing research, not a new trial. Survey study, 2025 Which Kampo medicines do Japanese doctors use for PMS and PMDD? 19.5% of Japanese gynecologists prefer Kampo medicine for PMS/PMDD. Different doctors choose different types based on their experience and whether they work in a clinic or hospital. Randomised trial, 2025 Can soy isoflavone supplements help with PMS and PMDD symptoms? This paper describes theoretical mechanisms through which soy isoflavone supplements could help PMS and PMDD by affecting hormones, neurotransmitters, and inflammation. However, it presents only theoretical pathways, not results from actual human trials, so real-world effectiveness remains unknown. Survey study, 2025 How do PMDD treatments affect sleep? This review examines how PMDD treatments like SSRIs affect sleep and circadian rhythms, but current research is limited. More research is needed to fully understand these effects. Survey study, 2025 Can stress affect your menstrual cycle? Stress can affect the menstrual cycle in various ways, from making it irregular to stopping periods completely, and can cause serious long-term health problems including bone loss and heart risks. Survey study, 2023 Is the uterine fibroid symptom survey a reliable tool for measuring treatment outcomes? This study validated a survey designed to measure fibroid treatment success, but the abstract does not report whether the validation was successful. Case report, 2023 Can stopping ovulation help severe PMDD when other treatments do not work? Yes. In this case, a woman with severe PMDD symptoms had improvement when treated with leuprorelin acetate and full resolution after surgery to remove her ovaries. This is a single case of very severe PMDD. Study, 2022 What are the symptoms, causes, and treatments of PMS and PMDD? PMS affects 20-40% of menstruating women and causes fatigue, mood changes, and bloating. PMDD is less common but more severe. Possible causes involve hormone changes and brain chemistry. Treatments include lifestyle changes and medications. Lab study, 2022 Can we create a rat model of PMDD irritability and does treatment help? Researchers created rats with PMDD symptoms and found that two drugs reduced a brain receptor linked to the symptoms. Case report, 2022 Can stopping the menstrual cycle help women whose arthritis gets worse before their period? One woman whose arthritis flared severely before her period improved significantly when her menstrual cycle was controlled with hormones. Review, 2021 What does progesterone do besides help with pregnancy? Progesterone is essential for the menstrual cycle and helps control other hormones, immune function, and possibly prevents disease. Without it, reproduction is not possible. Survey study, 2021 What are PMS and PMDD and how are they treated? PMS affects 10-98% of women and PMDD affects 2-8%. Both are treated with birth control, antidepressants, exercise, and lifestyle changes. Survey study, 2021 Does PMDD change blood flow in a brain area linked to mood, depending on hormones? Yes. In this small brain-imaging study, women with PMDD showed lower resting blood flow in a mood-related brain region when given estradiol or progesterone, while women without PMDD did not. Early gene data also hinted at a possible biological link, but this needs much more research. Lab study, 2020 Can researchers create an animal model that shows depression linked to the menstrual cycle? Researchers created a rat model showing depression-like behavior during the non-receptive phase of the cycle (like the luteal phase in women) and reverse it with fluoxetine, suggesting hormonal changes cause premenstrual depression. Study, 2020 Can ozone therapy reduce PMS symptoms? In 5 women with PMS, inflammation markers decreased and infections were reduced with ozone therapy combined with diet changes. Women reported improvement. Study, 2019 What treatments are available for PMS? Mild PMS can be treated with lifestyle changes like good sleep and exercise, or with therapy approaches. More severe PMS may need medication or in rare cases surgery. Case report, 2018 Does removing the ovaries help severe PMDD with binge eating? In one woman with severe PMDD and binge eating that hadn't improved with many treatments, removing both ovaries stopped all PMDD symptoms including the binge eating and food cravings. This is one person, so we can't know if it works for others. Randomised trial, 2018 Does sleep affect the LH hormone differently in women with PCOS versus normal women? Yes, though based on a very small study. In normal women, brief awakenings trigger LH hormone surges while REM sleep suppresses them, but in women with PCOS this pattern is reversed. Review, 2018 How should doctors diagnose and treat PMDD? This review explains that PMDD needs to be carefully told apart from other mental health conditions, and that antidepressants (SSRIs and SNRIs) are the recommended first treatment, with other options available if those don't work. Case-control study, 2018 How does progesterone affect metabolism differently in women with PMDD? Progesterone reduces amino acid levels in the blood, and this reduction appears to be different in women with PMDD compared to controls. However, the sample is very small and findings are preliminary. Case report, 2018 Does dienogest help premenstrual mood changes in someone with schizophrenia? One woman with schizophrenia improved in her premenstrual mood symptoms and returned to work. This is one person's experience, so we can't be sure others would benefit. Interview study, 2017 What is the experience of living with PMDD and how well do doctors understand it? Women with PMDD reported severe suffering including suicidal thoughts and felt misunderstood by both doctors and family members. Study, 2017 How is severe PMS (PMDD) diagnosed and what treatments do doctors recommend first? Doctors use specific symptoms to diagnose PMDD. Several treatment options exist, though some common supplements haven't been proven to help. Interview study, 2017 What is it like to live with PMDD and how do you experience healthcare? Women with PMDD reported severe suffering including suicidal thoughts and inability to do daily tasks premenstrually. Most felt misunderstood by family and healthcare providers, and many waited a long time for diagnosis. Randomised trial, 2017 Does yoga help with PMS symptoms? This text only gives the background and reasoning for a yoga trial. It does not include the trial's actual methods or results, so no answer about whether yoga worked can be given from this excerpt. Review, 2015 What do we currently know about premenstrual disorders like PMS and PMDD? This is a review summarising existing knowledge, not a new study: it says premenstrual disorders range from mild PMS to the more severe PMDD, the exact cause is unclear, and genetics, hormone changes, and brain chemical problems may all play a part. Survey study, 2015 Does migraine increase during menopause, and can hormone therapy help? Women who had PMS before menopause are more likely to experience increased migraine during the menopausal transition. Continuous hormone replacement therapy, particularly using skin patches or gels, may help prevent hormone-related migraine attacks. Study, 2015 How are hormones related to depression in women? Depression in women is caused by hormonal changes at certain times: before periods, after birth, and around menopause. These can be effectively treated with medications or procedures that change hormone levels, especially transdermal estrogens. Review, 2015 What causes premenstrual syndrome and what is the best treatment? PMS is triggered by progesterone changes after ovulation, though the exact cause is not fully understood. Antidepressants called selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors are the most effective and recommended first-line treatment. Non-randomised trial, 2014 Does hormone therapy help women with depression linked to periods and menopause? Yes. Thirty-five percent reported being cured and 55 percent had considerable improvement. For 94 percent, hormone therapy was life-changing for the better, and none reported worsening. Cohort study, 2013 Are brain abnormalities in PMDD related to how severe the condition is? Yes, women with PMDD show abnormal activation in a thinking and emotion brain region, and the degree of abnormality correlated with how severe their symptoms and disability were. Randomised trial, 2013 What treatments work for PMS and PMDD in teenagers? At least 20% of teenagers experience moderate-to-severe premenstrual symptoms. Education, calcium, exercise, and stress reduction help mild cases, but severe PMS and PMDD usually need medication like SSRIs or hormonal contraceptives. Research on teenagers is limited. Randomised trial, 2013 What treatments work for PMDD? Serotonin reuptake inhibitor antidepressants and hormonal contraceptives are the most evidence-based treatments. Alternative treatments like calcium, chasteberry, St. John's wort, and behavioral therapy may help but have less research supporting them. Study, 2012 Does stopping progesterone cause depression-like behavior? Yes. Stopping progesterone caused depression-like behavior in rats that was reduced by amitriptyline but not by fluoxetine or duloxetine. Review, 2012 Do GnRH agonist drugs treat PMS? Yes, GnRH agonist drugs can completely abolish PMS symptoms. However, they cause significant side effects from lowered estrogen that can be managed with add-back therapy. Survey study, 2012 Do women with PMDD have different ovaries or hormones than women without it? Women with PMDD had significantly fewer developing egg follicles than women without PMDD, but did not have polycystic ovaries or higher male hormones as researchers expected. Review, 2012 What causes PMS and PMDD? PMS and PMDD are triggered by hormonal changes after ovulation, but not by abnormal hormone levels. The brain's calming system (GABA) and mood system (serotonin) are both affected by progesterone changes. Review, 2012 How can doctors manage premenstrual-like symptoms caused by hormonal treatments containing progestogen? No clear evidence exists, but doctors should recognize that hormonal treatments like contraception can cause PMS-like symptoms cycling with medication use, termed progestogen-induced premenstrual disorder, and manage based on clinical experience. Case report, 2012 How can doctors tell the difference between severe PMS and bipolar disorder? Doctors can tell the difference by looking for symptoms that clearly follow the menstrual cycle and improve during pregnancy. These patterns occur in severe PMS but not in bipolar disorder, and severe PMS doesn't respond to antidepressants or mood-stabilizing medications used for bipolar disorder. Study, 2012 How should PMS treatments be chosen? Different treatments work for different women. Treatment selection should be based on each woman's specific symptoms and needs using established management principles from a clinical guideline. Review, 2012 Should surgery be used to treat PMDD? Surgery (removing both ovaries and uterus, followed by low-dose estrogen therapy) can be effective for PMDD, but only for women who don't respond to medications or cannot tolerate them. Non-randomised trial, 2011 Can we predict which women with PMDD will benefit from leuprolide treatment? Yes, likely. Women whose daily mood ratings show more regular patterns (less variable day-to-day) before treatment are more likely to respond to leuprolide. This can be determined from mood records taken over less than 3 months. Survey study, 2011 Do asthma symptoms get worse around menstruation? In this study of Saudi women with asthma, 8.2% had asthma symptoms that got worse around menstruation. Women with more severe asthma overall were more likely to experience this pattern. Survey study, 2010 How common are premenstrual symptoms in women around age 40? About 38% of women around age 40 had three or more premenstrual symptoms, and about 4.7% reported them as severe. Study, 2008 How common is PMDD and how does it affect women's lives? About 5% of menstruating women have severe PMDD with significant impairment in functioning. At least another 20% have clinically significant premenstrual symptoms. PMDD affects romantic relationships, parenting, work, and increases health care use. Study, 2008 What causes severe PMS and how is it treated? Severe PMS is caused by the body's reaction to normal hormone changes during the menstrual cycle. It is treatable with hormonal methods or antidepressants. Survey study, 2008 Does low progesterone cause PMS? No. Research by Professor Dennerstein showed that low progesterone does not cause PMS, even though hormones affect mood and behavior across the menstrual cycle. Study, 2008 Should we understand PMDD only as a medical illness, or also consider gender and social factors? The authors argue that understanding PMDD requires looking beyond just the medical view to include gender and social science perspectives, which helps us understand women's experiences more fully. Cohort study, 2007 Is vaginal hysterectomy safe when performed as same-day surgery? Yes, vaginal hysterectomy appears as safe as traditional overnight hospital stay, with 91.5 percent of women discharged within 24 hours and only 6.2 percent needing readmission. However, this research is not about PMS or PMDD. Randomised trial, 2007 Is a brain hormone called allopregnanolone linked to how PMS symptoms improve with treatment? Possibly yes: in this very small study, women whose PMS symptoms improved, whether on real treatment or placebo, also had a drop in allopregnanolone levels. But with only 6 women per group, this is far from proven. Lab study, 2007 Can antidepressants reduce anxious-like behavior during low-hormone phases in female rats? Yes. Fluoxetine, desipramine, nomifensine, diazepam, and progesterone all reduced anxious-like burying behavior during the low-hormone phase. Chlorpromazine had no effect. Review, 2007 How should menstruation be managed in girls with severe learning disabilities? This is a review of therapeutic approaches for menstruation management in this population. The abstract does not specify which treatments are recommended. Randomised trial, 2007 Does the birth control pill containing drospirenone and ethinyl estradiol help treat PMDD? The limited research available suggests it may help, and the pill has good tolerability and other health benefits, but more studies are needed to be sure. Cohort study, 2006 How should severe period pain in teenagers be treated? Regular pain relief medication (NSAIDs) started before periods begin may help. In one teenager, severe pain improved from 8 out of 10 to 5 out of 10. Randomised trial, 2006 Is PMS severity linked to how bad your migraines are? Yes, PMS and migraine severity are moderately connected. Women with migraines have worse PMS symptoms when their migraines are worse, throughout the menstrual cycle and even when hormones are surgically suppressed. Case report, 2006 Can overbreathing (hyperventilation) cause PMS? In 3 women with severe PMS, a pronounced drop in carbon dioxide levels in the blood happened during the luteal phase alongside their PMS symptoms. When a hormone injection prevented the carbon dioxide drop, symptoms disappeared. Survey study, 2005 How does sleep affect hormone pulses during the menstrual cycle? When women slept, their LH pulses (fertility hormone) occurred less frequently but stronger. Brief awakenings 5-15 minutes before LH pulses suggest sleep interruptions trigger hormone release. This small study (11 women) examined one cycle phase, limiting broader application of findings. Review, 2005 What causes breast pain and how is it treated? Breast pain affects up to 2 out of 3 women and can be associated with PMS. It is usually benign, and most women do not need treatment. Study, 2005 Do oral contraceptives help with premenstrual symptoms? Oral contraceptives may reduce premenstrual symptoms. Newer formulations with lower hormone levels appear most promising for severe symptoms. Survey study, 2005 What factors are associated with having a hysterectomy in women veterans? Premenstrual syndrome was one of several factors. Women with PMS were 1.6 times more likely to have had a hysterectomy (OR 1.6, 95% CI 1.1-2.3). Other factors included older age, multiple pregnancies, and PCOS. Case-control study, 2004 Are reproductive hormones abnormal in women with premenstrual dysphoria? No. Women with premenstrual dysphoria had normal hormone levels before and after stimulation, similar to healthy women. Non-randomised trial, 2004 Is hysterectomy and ovary removal an effective treatment for severe PMS? Yes, 96% of women were satisfied with the surgery and 93.6% reported complete resolution of PMS symptoms. However, this is major surgery requiring ongoing hormone therapy and should only be considered for women with severe, treatment-resistant PMS. Randomised trial, 2004 What medications help control asthma that gets worse around your period? Several medications may help including leukotriene receptor antagonists, long-acting beta-2 agonists, progesterone, estradiol, and GnRH analogs, but more research is needed to know which works best. Review, 2003 What treatments have been developed for PMS and PMDD? Over 40 years, hundreds of compounds have been patented for PMS and PMDD, including hormone therapies, antidepressants, vitamins, minerals, supplements, and newer drugs affecting brain chemistry. Survey study, 2002 What causes period pain, endometriosis, and PMS in teenage girls, and what treatments work? Period pain affects 80-90% of adolescent girls and is caused by chemicals in the uterus and abnormal muscle contractions. Treatment starts with relaxation and pain relief drugs, or hormonal medications if needed. Cohort study, 2002 What causes PMS and how is it treated? The exact cause is unknown, but researchers believe it involves an imbalance between hormones and brain chemicals. This summary covers the leading theories about what causes PMS and the treatments that work best. Study, 2002 What causes PMS and how is it treated? The exact cause of PMS is not known, but it is linked to changes in brain chemicals like serotonin and to how the body handles sex hormones. Because the cause is unclear, treatment is tailored to each person's main symptoms rather than following one fixed approach. Non-randomised trial, 2002 Is it safe to use hormone therapy alongside GnRH-agonist treatment for severe PMS? In this small study, yes. Hormone therapy appeared safe and effective, protecting bone health and controlling PMS symptoms. Review, 2002 Are hormone problems the cause of PMS? No clear hormone abnormalities have been found in people with PMS, even though hormones seem connected to mood. A treatment that stops monthly cycles improved mood, but why this works is still unclear. Review, 2002 What causes PMS and what treatments work? PMS is thought to involve hormones and brain chemicals called neurotransmitters. Two main treatments have emerged: stopping ovulation with hormones, or using antidepressants that increase serotonin. Randomised trial, 2001 Do women with PMDD have different serotonin activity in their blood? Yes, women with untreated PMDD showed higher serotonin binding sites in their blood compared to controls, and this difference disappeared with hormone treatment. Review, 2001 Do common health conditions get worse at certain times in your menstrual cycle? Yes. Migraine, epilepsy, asthma, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), and diabetes can worsen at certain points in the menstrual cycle. Lab study, 2001 Does the antidepressant fluoxetine reduce aggressive behavior during low-hormone phases in female rats? Yes. Fluoxetine at 10 mg/kg given for 4-5 days reduced aggressive behavior both during the naturally low-hormone phase and after hormone replacement in rats without ovaries. Review, 2000 What is GnRH and what is it used for in women? GnRH is a hormone medication that stops the release of other hormones involved in ovulation. It is used to treat PMS, endometriosis, fibroids, and other conditions. Survey study, 2000 How do female hormones affect headaches and migraines? Female hormones strongly influence headaches. Estrogen withdrawal (the drop in estrogen before the period) appears to trigger migraines more than sustained high or low estrogen levels. Hormones affect pain-processing brain systems. Case report, 1999 Can suppressing menstrual hormones help severe premenstrual asthma? In this one case, yes. A woman with severe premenstrual asthma improved significantly when hormones were suppressed to stop her menstrual cycle. Case report, 1999 Can LHRH analogue prevent premenstrual attacks of acute intermittent porphyria? Yes. In this one woman, an LHRH analogue combined with low-dose oestrogen patch stopped her premenstrual attacks and she has not needed hospitalization for over 3 years. Case report, 1999 Can a GnRH analogue stop premenstrual attacks of hereditary coproporphyria? Yes. In this one woman, the GnRH analogue stopped her menstrual cycle and her symptoms got much better. She has had only a minor attack once in 5 years but developed weaker bones. Non-randomised trial, 1999 Does taking sertraline only in the second half of the cycle help PMDD? In this very small study, half of the women who completed treatment (3 out of 6) showed significant improvement in PMDD symptoms with luteal-phase sertraline dosing. Survey study, 1999 Do bowel symptoms vary with the menstrual cycle in women with IBS and inflammatory bowel disease? Yes. About two-thirds of women with Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis reported that their symptoms got worse with their cycle. Women with IBS and inflammatory bowel disease reported more cyclical changes in bowel habits than women with normal bowel function. Review, 1998 What does research say about diagnosing and treating PMS and PMDD? This review explains that careful symptom tracking and ruling out other conditions are key to diagnosing PMS, and that some promising drug treatments exist for PMDD, though it is unclear if they work as well for milder premenstrual symptoms. Survey study, 1998 What are women's experiences with getting diagnosed and treated for PMS by doctors? Most women took many years and saw multiple doctors before being diagnosed. Most doctors didn't use proper diagnostic tools, and only about 1 in 4 provided helpful treatment. Survey study, 1998 Is depression around the period, after birth, or at menopause caused by abnormal reproductive hormones? No clear hormone abnormality has been found to explain PMS. No abnormalities in LH, estrogen, or progesterone were documented in PMS, though completely stopping monthly hormone cycling with a drug called leuprolide improved mood. Review, 1998 What treatments actually help with PMS? This review says treatment depends on your symptoms, and that birth control pills, water pills (diuretics), antidepressants, talk therapy and nutritional supplements have helped some women, while high-dose vitamin B6, progesterone, alprazolam and GnRH agonist drugs are generally not recommended. Randomised trial, 1997 What treatments are proven to work for PMS? Recent trials show serotonergic antidepressants and gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonists effectively treat PMS. Preliminary evidence supports spironolactone and carbohydrate-rich beverages. Review, 1997 What causes PMDD and how is it treated? PMDD results from complex brain changes triggered by ovulation and involving the serotonin system. It can be successfully treated with SSRIs, low-dose clomipramine, or GnRH agonists combined with estrogen and progestin supplementation. Cohort study, 1996 Can hormones trigger PMS symptoms in women without ovaries or a uterus? Not clearly. Some individual women showed links between progesterone and symptoms, but results overall were not statistically significant. Women don't respond uniformly to hormones. Study, 1996 Can asthma get much worse right before your period? Yes. One woman had life-threatening asthma attacks that only happened before her period. When a medication temporarily stopped her cycle, the attacks stopped. Randomised trial, 1996 Does hormone replacement therapy prevent low-estrogen side effects of GnRH agonist treatment for severe PMS? Gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonists help mood symptoms in severe PMS but cause low-estrogen side effects. Adding hormone replacement therapy prevents some side effects (bone loss and hot flashes) but not all progestin side effects. Case report, 1995 Does stopping the menstrual cycle help skin conditions that get worse before periods? Yes. In this one woman, both a hormone medicine and surgery to remove her ovaries showed dramatic improvement in her skin condition. Review, 1995 Can GnRHa hormone therapy treat premenstrual syndrome? GnRHa is used to treat PMS, but a 6-month course causes about 8.2% bone loss that may not fully recover, which is a concern for long-term use. Review, 1995 What is premenstrual syndrome and how is it diagnosed and managed? Premenstrual syndrome is a real illness with physical, mental, and behavioral symptoms that occur cyclically and need treatment. Diagnosis uses symptom history, exams, and daily ratings to confirm patterns. Survey study, 1995 Does the uterus cause premenstrual symptoms? Women who had their uterus removed showed large improvements in premenstrual symptoms. This suggests the uterus may play a role, though the study cannot prove this. Survey study, 1995 Does the luteal phase of the menstrual cycle increase the risk of seclusion in female psychiatric patients? No. No clear difference was found in seclusion rates between women in the luteal phase and those in other cycle phases. Non-randomised trial, 1994 Does leuprolide injection with hormone replacement help women with severe PMS? Yes. Women had significant improvement in water retention, pain, and psychological symptoms over 12 months. However, this is a strong medication, the study included only 10 women, and long-term bone health effects need more study. Non-randomised trial, 1994 Is PMS caused by imbalance in brain opioid activity? This study did not find evidence for this theory. Brain opioid response was similar in women with PMS and women without PMS. Survey study, 1994 How are irritable bowel syndrome and chronic pelvic pain related? They often occur together and share similar psychological causes like depression and childhood trauma. IBS symptoms get worse during menstruation and worsen pain outcomes after surgery. Review, 1994 Can GnRHa hormone therapy treat premenstrual syndrome long-term? GnRHa treats PMS but causes about 8.2% bone loss in 6 months that may not fully reverse, creating a challenge for longer-term use. Case report, 1993 Can hormone changes cause violent and sexually inappropriate behavior in girls? Possibly. The study found that peaks in one hormone (gonadotropin) happened at the same times as violent and sexually inappropriate behavior in two girls. When they received medicines to lower these hormones, their behavior improved markedly. Non-randomised trial, 1993 Does stopping menstruation with a GnRH agonist reduce PMS symptoms? In women with PMS alone, yes. Six of seven had significant symptom reduction including near-complete relief of premenstrual depression. In women with PMS and depression, the treatment did not help. Study, 1993 Does sleep change how the pituitary gland responds to hormonal signals? Yes. When women were awake at night, their pituitary gland responded less to a hormone signal. When they were asleep at night, the response returned to normal, showing that sleep prevents the nighttime decrease. Survey study, 1993 Is premenstrual syndrome a significant public health problem? According to the author, yes. Between 25 and 35 percent of women find PMS worrisome enough to need specialist care, and 5 to 10 percent experience severe symptoms. However, this is an opinion piece rather than a research study. Survey study, 1993 How many PMS symptoms do female singers experience and how does this affect their voice? Female singers reported an average of 33 general PMS symptoms and 3 vocal symptoms. Abdominal bloating was most common overall, and difficulty singing high notes was the most common vocal symptom. Symptoms decreased after age 35. Non-randomised trial, 1992 Does buserelin nasal spray help premenstrual syndrome? Buserelin temporarily reduced peak symptom severity and improved some symptoms like depression and breast pain, but underlying symptoms worsened and benefits did not last after treatment stopped. Lab study, 1992 Does hormone withdrawal change how brain blood vessels respond to serotonin? In lab tests with rabbit blood vessel tissue, hormone withdrawal made the vessels more sensitive to serotonin. Both sudden and long-term hormone removal had this effect. Survey study, 1992 Does removing the uterus reduce PMS symptoms? Yes. Removing the uterus resulted in a 66% reduction in premenstrual symptoms. However, one woman still had mood symptoms after surgery, suggesting the uterus is not the only factor involved. Randomised trial, 1991 Does medroxyprogesterone acetate cause side effects when added to hormone therapy? No, this study found no significant physical or psychological side effects from medroxyprogesterone acetate compared to placebo, regardless of women's PMS history. Survey study, 1991 How do stress hormones affect the menstrual cycle and PMS? Stress hormones in the brain can suppress the hormones needed for normal menstruation and ovulation. Changes in certain brain chemicals during the cycle may be linked to PMS symptoms, but evidence comes mainly from animal studies and theory rather than clinical trials. Study, 1991 Do women who've had a hysterectomy still get premenstrual symptoms? Yes. Most women who have had a hysterectomy but still have ovaries continue to have cyclic mood and physical symptoms. However, symptoms clustering late in the cycle (like traditional PMS) were less common than in women who still menstruate. Survey study, 1991 Is PMS a psychiatric disorder or a gynecological disorder? PMS is a gynecological disorder tied to ovulation and the corpus luteum, since symptoms stop when ovulation stops. Women with 'pure PMS' have less psychiatric history than other groups. Study, 1991 How should PMS treatment be chosen based on symptoms? Treatment should be matched to the specific symptoms that need control. This article reviews categories of symptoms, when they occur during the cycle, and theories about what causes PMS. Randomised trial, 1991 Does hormone replacement prevent GnRH agonist side effects in severe PMS? Yes. GnRH agonist alone improved symptoms 75 percent. Adding estrogen and progesterone together maintained this improvement while avoiding hormone deficiency side effects. Review, 1991 What treatments are available for late luteal phase dysphoric disorder? Many treatments exist, including medications, vitamins, and hormones. However, non-drug approaches like diet, exercise, and psychotherapy have received less research attention. Non-randomised trial, 1990 Can removing the ovaries cure severe PMS that hasn't responded to other treatments? In this small study of 14 women, yes: shutting down ovarian hormones with medication gave complete relief, and surgery to remove the ovaries and uterus (plus low-dose estrogen) gave lasting relief afterward. Non-randomised trial, 1990 Does suppressing ovulation help patients with porphyria attacks related to the menstrual cycle? There was weak evidence of benefit - attacks fell from 7 to 3 median, but this difference was not quite statistically significant. Patients with the strongest menstrual cycle-attack link benefited most. Review, 1990 Does danazol, a synthetic steroid, relieve PMS symptoms? In this small case study of 21 women, danazol relieved PMS symptoms in up to 85% of patients when combined with other treatment approaches. It worked best for women whose main symptom was breast pain. Study, 1990 Does removing the ovaries and uterus cure severe PMS? Yes. In this group of 14 women with severe, treatment-resistant PMS, all symptoms disappeared after surgery with continuous estrogen replacement. However, this is major surgery appropriate only for women with severe, debilitating symptoms who have failed other treatments. Randomised trial, 1990 Does progesterone work better than other hormone treatments for PMS? This commentary says no good evidence supports progesterone, while treatments that work by changing ovarian hormone activity have been shown to help in placebo-controlled studies. Study, 1989 Do menstrual cycle hormones cause premenstrual syndrome, and can stopping ovulation help? Stopping ovulation significantly reduced physical and mood symptoms, suggesting hormones are involved. However, some women still had symptom flare-ups even when hormone levels showed no ovulation, showing the link between hormones and symptoms is more complex than expected. Cohort study, 1989 Can women without a uterus still get PMS? Yes. Three women without a uterus but with intact ovaries had PMS when tracked daily, showing that PMS is linked to ovarian hormones, not the uterus or psychological factors. Review, 1988 Are LHRH agonist drugs helpful for treating severe PMS? LHRH agonists appear beneficial for some women with severe premenstrual tension but worsen symptoms in others. They cause serious side effects like bone loss, making them unsuitable as long-term treatment for younger women. Study, 1988 Does removing the uterus stop PMS symptoms? No. One woman continued experiencing PMS symptoms even after having her uterus removed. Her mood and physical symptoms still worsened in the second half of her ovarian cycle. Survey study, 1988 Do women with premenstrual syndrome have abnormal opioid hormone activity during the menstrual cycle? The study found differences in how hormones respond to naloxone in women with PMS compared to controls, especially in the days before menstruation. The abstract is incomplete, so full findings are not presented. Randomised trial, 1987 Does danazol help premenstrual tension symptoms? Danazol may help some symptoms better than placebo, particularly breast pain, lethargy, anxiety and increased appetite by the third month. However, 13 of 40 women dropped out during the study, mostly because they felt the treatment was not helping. Review, 1987 How well do hormone-suppressing drugs work for treating gynaecological conditions? This review suggests that hormone-suppressing drugs called LHRH agonists work well for several gynaecological conditions and have few serious side effects, though larger studies are needed to compare which drugs and doses work best. Review, 1987 What medicines work best for treating moderate to severe premenstrual syndrome? For mild to moderate PMS, the first approach should be diet, exercise, and nutritional supplements. For severe cases, medications like danazol, estrogen implants, or progesterone at 300 mg per day can be tried, though evidence for some is still limited. Survey study, 1987 What happens to hormones and follicles when estrogen is blocked in the menstrual cycle? Blocking estrogen with antibodies increased FSH and LH hormones and caused larger follicles to grow. This was tested in monkeys, not people. Lab study, 1987 Does the menstrual cycle change how your body's stress hormone system responds? No. Baseline stress hormone levels and the body's response to a stress hormone injection did not change across different menstrual cycle phases. Randomised trial, 1987 Does the hormone drug danazol help premenstrual syndrome symptoms? Yes, in this very small study, low-dose danazol taken only before the period lowered symptom scores more than placebo, but the study is too small to be sure it will work for everyone. Study, 1987 Does stopping ovulation with buserelin help PMS? For some women yes, but for others it makes things much worse. Half improved with lasting symptom relief for 5 to 15 months, while half had severe side effects and stopped within 2 months. Review, 1987 How can gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) analog drugs be used to treat gynaecological conditions? This review notes that GnRH analog drugs reduce hormone production and are being studied as potential treatments for several gynaecological conditions, though evidence is still being gathered. Study, 1986 Could hormones other than estrogen and progesterone cause PMS? This is an idea paper, not a study with real data, so it cannot be confirmed. It suggests PMS might be caused by high levels of pituitary hormones acting on body tissues outside their usual targets, but this is only a theory. Review, 1985 What medical treatments are proven effective for PMS? There is no clear evidence that any single medical treatment is definitively effective for PMS, though psychological approaches may also be worth considering. Randomised trial, 1985 What are the best methods for studying premenstrual syndrome? Good PMS research should use well-defined patient groups, confirm reports with daily monitoring, consider different types of biological changes, exclude placebo responders before testing treatments, and use double-blind placebo-controlled crossover designs. Survey study, 1985 What did doctors know about PMS diagnosis and treatment in 1985? There was no agreement on how to diagnose PMS or what to treat it with, though doctors recognized a link between PMS and mood disorders like depression. Review, 1985 What is the best approach to treating PMS? Start with reassurance, dietary changes, and regular exercise. If that does not work, add vitamin B6, and optionally vitamin E or zinc. If still not effective, add a diuretic or natural progesterone. For very resistant cases, bromocriptine or danazol may be considered. Case-control study, 1985 Do women with PMS show different hormone patterns and ovulation timing after the corpus luteum is removed? Yes. Women with PMS took longer to ovulate after corpus luteum removal (21 days versus 19 days in controls) and had lower FSH levels, suggesting their hormonal feedback system is more sensitive. Case report, 1985 What is PMS and how should doctors treat it? PMS is a cyclical condition with physical and psychological symptoms that occur 7-14 days before menstruation. About 30 percent of women experience PMS in a severe form at some point in their lives. Non-randomised trial, 1984 Does stopping hormone production help severe PMS? Yes. In this 6-month study of 8 women, a GnRH agonist (which stops ovarian hormone production) relieved both physical and behavioral symptoms. Long-term safety is unknown. Case report, 1983 Can a hormone treatment stop psychosis that comes back with the menstrual cycle? In this one woman, yes - her psychosis stopped coming back each month when she took danazol, a hormone-blocking drug. But this is one person's story, so we can't be sure it would work for others. Review, 1982 What treatments work for premenstrual syndrome? No single treatment works for all women. Many different drugs have been tested but show inconsistent results. About 50% of improvement appears to be placebo effect. Study, 1981 Do premenstrual tension symptoms go away after hysterectomy? No, cyclical mood and physical changes linked to the menstrual cycle continue after hysterectomy in women who had premenstrual tension syndrome, which suggests the cause is hormonal rather than related to the uterus itself. Non-randomised trial, 1979 Does danazol help premenstrual syndrome? Half of 12 women with severe PMS benefited. However, a second group had a high dropout rate because side effects outweighed any benefits. Show more studies Ask AI about this page Copy prompt ChatGPT ↗ Claude ↗ Perplexity ↗ Google AI Mode ↗ Grok ↗