Review: progesterone or progesterone lead to a marginal reduction in premenstrual syndrome symptoms.

Main results 10 studies (531 women) of 14 published trials testing the efficacy of progesterone met the selection criteria. 1 study used both suppositories and oral preparations and was treated as 2 studies in the meta-analysis. The pooled results for 8 studies on suppositories and 3 studies on oral drugs showed a small benefit for progesterone in the reduction of symptoms (table). When results were analysed according to route of administration, a small benefit in favour of placebo over suppositories and in favour of oral micronised progesterone over placebo were seen (table). 3 studies (4 comparisons) of 15 published trials comparing progestogens with placebo met the selection criteria. The progestogens were medroxyprogesterone, 15 mg (1 study); norethisterone, 15 mg (1 study); and dydrogesterone, 20 mg (2 studies). The pooled results showed a marginal benefit for progestogens over placebo in the reduction of symptoms (table). The difference in withdrawals resulting from side effects was not statistically significant for progesterone or progestogens (table).