---
title: Does long-acting GnRH agonist injection help severe premenstrual syndrome?
description: Despite changing hormone levels as expected, the injection did not reduce symptoms more than saline placebo injections. This suggests either a strong placebo
url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/premenstrual-syndrome-and-related-hormonal-changes-long-acting-gonadotropin-1993/
---

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- Does long-acting GnRH agonist injection help severe premenstrual syndrome?

Randomised trial, 1993

# Does long-acting GnRH agonist injection help severe premenstrual syndrome?

Despite changing hormone levels as expected, the injection did not reduce symptoms more than saline placebo injections. This suggests either a strong placebo effect or that this treatment is not effective.

 Moderate study design

12 women with severe PMS, regular menstrual cycles, no known psychiatric disorders

## What they did

12 women with severe PMS, regular cycles, and no psychiatric disorders received placebo-controlled crossover treatment. They got either normal saline or depot leuprolide acetate 7.5 mg injected every 30 days starting with menses. Each subject received the same agent twice before switching.

## What they found

Significant decrease in PMS symptoms occurred in both treatment groups (including placebo). The GnRH agonist treatment showed significant elevation of beta-endorphin levels and suppression of gonadotropin concentrations compared to placebo, but did not reduce PMS symptoms more than saline.

## What it means for you

The medication did not work better than placebo injections. The study was very small (12 women) and selected by specific criteria. Despite producing the expected hormone changes, the treatment did not improve symptoms more than placebo, suggesting a strong placebo effect or that hormone suppression alone doesn't treat severe PMS.

12

women with severe PMS

7.5 mg

leuprolide dose per injection

every 30 days

injection frequency

## About the study

Original title Premenstrual syndrome and related hormonal changes. Long-acting gonadotropin releasing hormone agonist treatment Authors Helvacioglu A, Yeoman RR, Hazelton JM et al. Journal The Journal of reproductive medicine Year 1993 Study design Randomised trial Participants 12 What was tested Depot leuprolide acetate 7.5 mg injection every 30 days versus saline Read the paper [https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/8277482/](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/8277482/)

## Topics

[Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pms/)[GnRH agonists and ovarian suppression](https://niyora.com/research/topics/treatment-gnrh/)

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