Non-randomised trial, 1994
Does the uterine lining cause premenstrual syndrome?
Possibly. Women with PMS who had surgery to remove their uterine lining improved when their periods stopped, and symptoms returned when periods came back.
What they did
Observational study of 108 women having endometrial ablation (surgery to remove the uterine lining) for heavy menstrual bleeding. Of these women, 73 also had PMS. Researchers assessed their symptoms before surgery and 1 to 2 years after surgery.
What they found
After surgery most women initially had no periods and their PMS improved significantly. When menstrual bleeding returned in some women, PMS often recurred. Women who remained amenorrheic remained free of PMS symptoms.
What it means for you
The findings suggest that substances from the uterine lining may contribute to PMS. The main limits are that this was only studied in women with heavy bleeding (not all PMS women), there was no control group, and surgery is not a practical or standard treatment for PMS.
108
women having surgery
73
with PMS
1-2
years of follow-up
About the study
- Original title
- Origin of premenstrual syndrome: assessment by endometrial ablation
- Authors
- Lefler HT Jr, Lefler CF
- Journal
- The Journal of the American Association of Gynecologic Laparoscopists
- Year
- 1994
- Study design
- Non-randomised trial
- Participants
- 108
- What was tested
- Endometrial ablation with rollerbar resectoscope
- Read the paper
- doi.org/10.1016/s1074-3804(05)81011-4