The Premenstrual Syndrome: Clinical Trials of Treatment with a Progestogen Combined with a Diuretic Compared with Both a Progestogen Alone and with a Placebo

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
Two series of clinical trials in the treatment of premenstrual tension are reported. In the first series, 35 patients whose ages ranged from 21 to 40 participated, representing a total number of 140 menstrual cycles. The effect of a progestogen‐diuretic preparation was compared with the effect of progestogen only. A good or very good effect was found in 26 and 17% of the cycles respectively. The difference was not statistically significant. In the second series 21 student nurses participated representing a total number of 84 menstrual cycles. In this group the effect of the combined preparation was compared with the effect of a placebo in a double blind series. The result was surprising, revealing no difference in effect in the two groups. Neither of the trials gave encouraging results. Other investigators have obtained far better results especially with preparations containing a tranquillizer in addition to progestogen‐diuretics. A psychological factor is apparently predominant in many of these patients.