Randomised trial, 1979
Does progesterone help premenstrual syndrome?
No. Progesterone at either dose was not significantly better than placebo at reducing symptoms, and placebo was often more effective.
What they did
75 women with PMS recorded symptoms daily using menstrual distress questionnaires. After an untreated cycle, women received progesterone 200 mg twice daily and placebo in double-blind crossover. Then 75% of patients received progesterone 400 mg twice daily and placebo in the same manner. Cycles were rated by daily questionnaires and retrospective self-assessment.
What they found
No significant difference between progesterone and placebo in reducing premenstrual syndrome symptoms at either dose. In the majority of cases placebo was more effective, although never significantly so.
What it means for you
This well-designed trial found that progesterone at either dose was no better than placebo for PMS, and placebo often worked better. This challenges the common belief that progesterone helps PMS. The study included 75 women from 1979, which was relatively large for that time.
75
women with premenstrual syndrome
200 mg
progesterone dose initially
400 mg
progesterone dose for 75% of women
About the study
- Original title
- Premenstrual syndrome: a double-blind controlled trial of progesterone and placebo
- Authors
- Sampson GA
- Journal
- The British journal of psychiatry : the journal of mental science
- Year
- 1979
- Study design
- Randomised trial
- Participants
- 75
- What was tested
- Progesterone 200 mg and 400 mg twice daily
- Read the paper
- doi.org/10.1192/bjp.135.3.209