Randomised trial, 1990
Does stopping ovulation with progestins help PMS symptoms?
Medroxyprogesterone reduced breast discomfort and mood-related symptoms, but norethisterone did not work better than placebo. Both are effective at stopping ovulation but only medroxyprogesterone helped symptoms.
What they did
48 women with PMS received either medroxyprogesterone, norethisterone, or placebo in a double-blind crossover study. Each active treatment was 15 mg daily for 21 days per cycle. 35 women completed the study.
What they found
Medroxyprogesterone significantly reduced breast discomfort and psychological symptoms compared to placebo by the second cycle. Norethisterone suppressed ovulation similarly but was no more effective than placebo. Medroxyprogesterone caused breakthrough bleeding in 74% of cycles versus 22% with norethisterone. Response to treatment was related to how many psychological symptoms women had before treatment.
What it means for you
Medroxyprogesterone may help PMS, though the benefit likely comes from disrupting the menstrual cycle itself rather than from stopping ovulation. The study was small with only 35 women finishing, and the crossover design makes it hard to separate real effects from carryover effects between treatments.
35/48
Women who completed
15 mg daily
Dose of each progestin
74% vs 22%
Breakthrough bleeding rates
About the study
- Original title
- Inhibition of ovulation with oral progestins--effectiveness in premenstrual syndrome
- Authors
- West CP
- Journal
- European journal of obstetrics, gynecology, and reproductive biology
- Year
- 1990
- Study design
- Randomised trial
- What was tested
- Medroxyprogesterone 15 mg daily for 21 days per cycle, or norethisterone 15 mg daily for 21 days per cycle, versus placebo
- Open access
- Yes
- Read the paper
- doi.org/10.1016/0028-2243(90)90015-s