Randomised trial, 1999
Do premenstrual symptoms improve when women with asthma take estradiol during the premenstrual phase?
No, estradiol had no significant effect on premenstrual symptoms in women with premenstrual asthma. For some women, symptoms worsened with estradiol.
What they did
14 women with mild to moderate asthma were followed for two menstrual cycles. During the second cycle, they were given estradiol 2 mg orally on days 23-28 (the premenstrual phase). They recorded premenstrual symptoms daily and tracked asthma symptoms and breathing measurements.
What they found
Seven women showed classic premenstrual symptoms. After estradiol, four women had lower symptom scores, eight had higher scores, and two had no change. Overall, estradiol made no significant difference in premenstrual symptoms. Ten women showed relationships between asthma symptoms and premenstrual symptoms, and six showed relationships between breathing measurements and premenstrual symptoms.
What it means for you
Adding estradiol in the premenstrual phase does not help women with premenstrual asthma. This is useful information for future studies. The study was small and open-label (not double-blind), so the results need confirmation with a larger, controlled design.
14
women with asthma
2 mg
estradiol dose
days 23-28
premenstrual window
About the study
- Original title
- Premenstrual symptoms in women with premenstrual asthma
- Authors
- Ensom MH, Chong E, Carter D
- Journal
- Pharmacotherapy
- Year
- 1999
- Study design
- Randomised trial
- What was tested
- Estradiol 2 mg orally on days 23-28 of one menstrual cycle (premenstrual phase)
- Read the paper
- doi.org/10.1592/phco.19.6.374.31050
Topics
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