No good evidence for popular PMS treatments
There is no convincing evidence to support the use
of progesterone or progestogens for the treatment of premenstrual syndrome
(PMS), despite the continued popularity of these therapies, say researchers.
Dr Katrina Wyatt, academic department of obstetrics
and gynaecology, Keele University, and colleagues reviewed 14 trials of
progesterone or progestogen therapy involving 909 women with PMS. They
found no evidence to support the claimed efficacy of progesterone for
PMS and say that progestogens are also unlikely to be effective for its
management.
“This is not surprising as there are reliable data
to refute the theory that PMS is caused by a progesterone deficiency,”
they say.
The study, which is published in the British
Medical Journal (2001;323:776), has been welcomed by Professor Martin
Kendall, Chairman of the British National Formulary“s Joint Formulary
Committee. He said: “[The] study confirms the BNF“s long-standing view
that there is no convincing physiological basis for progestogen treatment
to alleviate PMS.” He added that it would be disconcerting if doctors
were still prescribing a progestogen to manage PMS. “Disconcerting, but
not unsurprising, since drugs such as dydrogesterone, norethisterone and
progesterone remain licensed for PMS,” he said.
Although the BNF includes the manufacturers“ doses
for progestogens (BNF 42, section 6.4.1.2), it also states that such treatment
is not recommended for PMS.
Back to Top
|
