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- $Unique_ID{BRK02470}
- $Pretitle{}
- $Title{Is Progesterone Good Medicine for PMS?}
- $Subject{monthly progesterone medication premenstrual syndrome pms placebo ill
- defined symptom symptoms genitourinary behavior behaviors medicine medicines
- medications treatment treatments menstruate menstruation}
- $Volume{N-14,R-22}
- $Log{
- The Menstrual Cycle*0009101.scf}
-
- Copyright (c) 1992,1993 Tribune Media Services, Inc.
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-
- Is Progesterone Good Medicine for PMS?
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- QUESTION: I am one of those women who suffer each month from the problems
- that come with my monthly. I have tried most solutions, with only some help,
- but never with the relief I would like. One of my sisters claims the
- medication she received from her doctor, progesterone, helps relieve her
- symptoms. Do you think that this may be the medicine for me?
-
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-
- ANSWER: It may well be, if you think it is. That is not a very scientific
- answer but it accurately reflects the findings in a recent study of this
- question. Premenstrual syndrome (or PMS) consists of a wide variety of
- symptoms that accompany the menstrual period in many women. They include
- nervous tension, irritability, mood swings, fatigue, depression, cramps,
- breast tenderness and insomnia. These symptoms may affect different women in
- different ways and with differing intensity, and so the effect of any
- medication becomes a very subjective study. But when 168 women with PMS were
- followed in a clinical trial of progesterone suppositories at the University
- of Medicine School of Medicine, the results were a bit astonishing. The women
- taking the suppository with the active medication were no better off than
- those taking a suppository with a placebo. While that may not prove that
- progesterone is ineffective, it does demonstrate that it does not provide more
- relief than a placebo. It may also explain why your sister obtained her
- relief, and why I stated that it you believe it can help you, it may well do
- so.
-
- ----------------
-
- The material contained here is "FOR INFORMATION ONLY" and should not replace
- the counsel and advice of your personal physician. Promptly consulting your
- doctor is the best path to a quick and successful resolution of any medical
- problem.
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