---
title: Does doxycycline (an antibiotic) help premenstrual syndrome? | Niyora
description: Yes, doxycycline significantly reduced PMS symptoms and the improvement lasted 6 months. The researchers found bacteria in the endometrial tissue of most wome
url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/effect-of-doxycycline-on-pre-menstrual-syndrome-a-double-blind-randomized-1988/
---

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- Does doxycycline (an antibiotic) help premenstrual syndrome?

Randomised trial, 1988

# Does doxycycline (an antibiotic) help premenstrual syndrome?

Yes, doxycycline significantly reduced PMS symptoms and the improvement lasted 6 months. The researchers found bacteria in the endometrial tissue of most women, suggesting some PMS cases may be caused by infection.

 Moderate study design

30 women with well-defined PMS symptoms

## What they did

30 women were randomly assigned to doxycycline or placebo. After treatment, the placebo group also received doxycycline. Women had tissue samples taken from the endometrium (uterine lining) and blood hormone tests. Follow-up continued for 6 months.

## What they found

Women taking doxycycline showed a highly significant reduction of symptoms. Women in the placebo group who then received doxycycline also improved. At 6-month follow-up, the symptom improvement was permanent. Endometrial biopsies showed high incidence of out-of-phase endometrium and an unexpectedly high percentage yielded positive findings for mycoplasma, Chlamydia trachomatis, and anaerobic bacteria.

## What it means for you

Doxycycline may help PMS, possibly by treating a hidden infection. However, this is only one small study with 30 women, and the finding has not been widely confirmed.

30

women studied

6 months

follow-up duration

3

types of bacteria found

## About the study

Original title Effect of doxycycline on pre-menstrual syndrome: a double-blind randomized clinical trial Authors Toth A, Lesser ML, Naus G et al. Journal The Journal of international medical research Year 1988 Study design Randomised trial What was tested Doxycycline antibiotic versus placebo Read the paper [doi.org/10.1177/030006058801600404](https://doi.org/10.1177/030006058801600404)

## Topics

[Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pms/)

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