---
title: Does bromocriptine help premenstrual syndrome and infertility?
description: Yes, bromocriptine improved PMS symptoms and was associated with pregnancies in women treated for infertility, likely by lowering the hormone prolactin.
url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/premenstrual-tension-and-functional-infertility-aetiology-and-treatment-1976/
---

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- Does bromocriptine help premenstrual syndrome and infertility?

Randomised trial, 1976

# Does bromocriptine help premenstrual syndrome and infertility?

Yes, bromocriptine improved PMS symptoms and was associated with pregnancies in women treated for infertility, likely by lowering the hormone prolactin.

 Early or limited evidence

Women with premenstrual symptoms and infertility studied in three separate groups (17, 34, and 45 women).

## What they did

Multiple studies of bromocriptine: First, 17 women with PMS received bromocriptine or placebo in a crossover design. Second, 34 women received bromocriptine 2-5 mg twice daily starting from cycle day 10 for 1 to 11 months. Third, 45 infertile women received bromocriptine for a total of 186 menstrual cycles.

## What they found

In the first group, 5 women became pregnant and 10 who completed 2 cycles showed significant improvement in breast symptoms, swelling, weight gain, and mood. In the second group, women had marked or complete relief from PMS. In the third group, 23 women became pregnant, 2 had marked relief from PMS symptoms, and 20 had complete relief.

## What it means for you

Bromocriptine may help PMS by lowering prolactin levels and may also help with fertility. The main limitations are that this is from 1976 with mixed study designs and some groups did not have placebo controls, so reliability by modern standards is limited.

17, 34, 45

women in three separate studies

23

became pregnant

20

had complete relief from PMS

## About the study

Original title Premenstrual tension and functional infertility. Aetiology and treatment Authors Benedek-Jaszmann LJ, Hearn-Sturtevant MD Journal Lancet (London, England) Year 1976 Study design Randomised trial Participants 45 What was tested Bromocriptine 2-5 mg twice daily for 1 to 11 months. Read the paper [doi.org/10.1016/s0140-6736(76)90062-3](https://doi.org/10.1016/s0140-6736(76)90062-3)

## Topics

[Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pms/)[Anxiety and tension](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-anxiety/)[Cognition, concentration and memory](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-cognition/)[Diuretics and other drugs](https://niyora.com/research/topics/treatment-diuretics-other-drugs/)[Pregnancy and postpartum](https://niyora.com/research/topics/comorbidity-postpartum/)

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