Randomised trial, 2013
Does progesterone reduce PMS symptoms in women with polycystic ovary syndrome?
Yes. Women with PCOS and PMS who took progesterone had significant reductions in depression, anxiety, mood swings, bloating, and several other PMS symptoms compared to placebo.
What they did
A randomized double-blind placebo-controlled trial of 60 women aged 18–35 who had both PCOS and PMS. Half received 300 mg progesterone daily in 3 doses from day 15 to day 25 of their cycle, and half received placebo capsules, for 3 months. Symptom severity was measured before treatment and 3 months after.
What they found
95.5% of participants had 2 or more premenstrual symptoms. The most frequent were depression, anxiety, abdominal bloating, mood swings, and breast tenderness. The progesterone group had statistically significant declines in depression, irritability, anxiety, mood swings, bloating, sleeplessness, feeling hopeless, breast tenderness, and loss of interest in usual activities.
What it means for you
Progesterone treatment reduces multiple PMS symptoms in women with PCOS. However, this study only included women with PCOS, so results may not apply to women without PCOS. The treatment period was 3 months.
60
women with PCOS and PMS
300 mg
daily progesterone dose
3 months
treatment duration
About the study
- Original title
- Treatment of Premenstrual Syndrome with Progesterone in Women with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome
- Authors
- Ibrahim Oguz Karaca
- Journal
- Gynecology & Obstetrics
- Year
- 2013
- Study design
- Randomised trial
- Participants
- 30
- What was tested
- Progesterone 300 mg daily (in 3 doses from day 15–25) for 3 months
- Read the paper
- doi.org/10.4172/2161-0932.1000151
Topics
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