--- title: Does blocking progesterone conversion help PMDD symptoms? | Niyora description: A high dose of dutasteride reduced several PMDD symptoms by blocking conversion of progesterone to a hormone compound. However, only the high dose worked and url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/5-reductase-inhibition-prevents-the-luteal-phase-increase-in-plasma-2016/ --- - [Niyora](https://niyora.com/) - [Research](https://niyora.com/research/) - [Library](https://niyora.com/research/library/) - Does blocking progesterone conversion help PMDD symptoms? Randomised trial, 2016 # Does blocking progesterone conversion help PMDD symptoms? A high dose of dutasteride reduced several PMDD symptoms by blocking conversion of progesterone to a hormone compound. However, only the high dose worked and the study was small. Early or limited evidence 16 women with PMDD and 16 control women ## What they did Randomized double-blind placebo-controlled crossover trial where 16 women with PMDD and 16 control women took either placebo or dutasteride for three menstrual cycles. Low-dose group received 0.5 mg daily and high-dose group received 2.5 mg daily. Researchers measured symptoms and hormone levels at two phases of the cycle. ## What they found The low-dose dutasteride had no significant effect and hormone levels still changed across the cycle as usual. The high-dose group had statistically significant reductions in irritability, sadness, anxiety, food cravings, and bloating compared to placebo. Dutasteride did not affect mood in the control women. ## What it means for you High-dose dutasteride may work by stabilizing hormone levels related to mood, but only the high dose was effective. The study was very small (16 women per group) and used a complex crossover design, so larger studies are needed to confirm. 2.5 mg/day effective high dose 0.5 mg/day low dose (not effective) 3 menstrual cycles ## About the study Original title 5α-Reductase Inhibition Prevents the Luteal Phase Increase in Plasma Allopregnanolone Levels and Mitigates Symptoms in Women with Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder Authors Martinez PE, Rubinow DR, Nieman LK et al. Journal Neuropsychopharmacology : official publication of the American College of Neuropsychopharmacology Year 2016 Study design Randomised trial Participants 16 What was tested Dutasteride at low dose (0.5 mg daily) or high dose (2.5 mg daily) Open access Yes Read the paper [doi.org/10.1038/npp.2015.246](https://doi.org/10.1038/npp.2015.246) ## Topics [Premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pmdd/)[Menstrual cycle and mood](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-cycle-mood/)[Low mood and depression](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-depression-mood/)[Anxiety and tension](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-anxiety/)[Irritability and anger](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-irritability-anger/)[Neurosteroids (allopregnanolone)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/treatment-neurosteroids/)[Pregnancy and postpartum](https://niyora.com/research/topics/comorbidity-postpartum/) 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 Randomised trial, 2017 Does Sepranolone reduce symptoms of severe premenstrual syndrome (PMDD)? Randomised trial, 2018 How do progesterone metabolites affect PMDD symptoms? Review, 2003 How do menstrual cycle hormones affect the brain and cause mood disorders like PMDD? Randomised trial, 2021 Does blocking progesterone receptors help women with PMDD control anger and aggression? Randomised trial, 2021 Does ulipristal acetate help premenstrual dysphoric disorder? Case-control study, 2026 What role do brain chemicals called neurosteroids play in PMDD? Ask AI about this page Copy prompt ChatGPT ↗ Claude ↗ Perplexity ↗ Google AI Mode ↗ Grok ↗