---
title: Does evening primrose oil help PMS symptoms? | Niyora
description: No. There were no significant differences between evening primrose oil and placebo. The symptom improvements women experienced were solely due to placebo effe
url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/evening-primrose-oil-and-treatment-of-premenstrual-syndrome-1990/
---

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- Does evening primrose oil help PMS symptoms?

Randomised trial, 1990

# Does evening primrose oil help PMS symptoms?

No. There were no significant differences between evening primrose oil and placebo. The symptom improvements women experienced were solely due to placebo effect.

 Moderate study design

38 women with moderate PMS

## What they did

A double-blind, placebo-controlled study of 38 women with moderate PMS. Women received evening primrose oil or placebo for 3 cycles, then switched to the other treatment for 3 more cycles (cross-over design). 10 PMS symptoms plus menstrual symptoms were measured throughout.

## What they found

Symptoms improved during the trial, with improvements rapid in the first cycle. However, there were no significant differences in symptom scores between the active evening primrose oil group and the placebo group over 6 cycles. The same improvement pattern occurred regardless of whether women received the active treatment or placebo next.

## What it means for you

Evening primrose oil is not more effective than placebo for moderate PMS. Women improved because they were in a study and expected to improve, not because of the oil itself. This was a well-designed study with a reasonable sample of 38 women.

38

women studied

6

total menstrual cycles

10

PMS symptoms measured

## About the study

Original title Evening primrose oil and treatment of premenstrual syndrome Authors Khoo SK, Munro C, Battistutta D Journal The Medical journal of Australia Year 1990 Study design Randomised trial Participants 38 What was tested Evening primrose oil (Efamol and Vita-Glow brands) Read the paper [doi.org/10.5694/j.1326-5377.1990.tb136857.x](https://doi.org/10.5694/j.1326-5377.1990.tb136857.x)

## Topics

[Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pms/)[Evening primrose oil](https://niyora.com/research/topics/treatment-evening-primrose/)

Research tells you what helps on average. Niyora helps on the day it hits.

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