Randomised trial, 1987
Does the hormone drug danazol help premenstrual syndrome symptoms?
Yes, in this very small study, low-dose danazol taken only before the period lowered symptom scores more than placebo, but the study is too small to be sure it will work for everyone.
What they did
14 women with premenstrual syndrome were given either danazol (200 mg a day) or a placebo, taken from when symptoms started until their period began, for two cycles each. It was a double-blind, crossover study, meaning each woman tried both the drug and the placebo and neither she nor the researchers knew which was which at the time.
What they found
11 of the 14 women improved while taking danazol. Symptom scores were significantly lower with danazol than with placebo (P less than .035). No side effects from the medication were reported.
What it means for you
Taking danazol only in the days before a period may ease PMS symptoms with few reported side effects, but with only 14 women studied, this is a small early result that would need larger trials to confirm.
14
Women studied
11 of 14
Improved on danazol
P < .035
Statistical significance
About the study
- Original title
- Premenstrual syndrome: beneficial effects of periodic, low-dose danazol
- Authors
- Sarno AP Jr, Miller EJ Jr, Lundblad EG
- Journal
- Obstetrics and gynecology
- Year
- 1987
- Study design
- Randomised trial
- Participants
- 14
- What was tested
- Periodic, low-dose danazol (200 mg/day) taken before menses, compared with placebo
- Read the paper
- doi.org/10.1097/00006254-198801000-00018
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