Elimination of ovulation and menstrual cyclicity (with danazol) improves dysphoric premenstrual syndromes.

OBJECTIVE

To assess whether the therapeutic effect of danazol on premenstrual syndromes (PMS) is associated with suppression of ovulation.

DESIGN

After 1 month on placebo, we administered 200 mg/d of danazol for 90 days to 24 women with dysphoric PMS. Symptoms during ovulatory cycles were compared with anovulatory periods.

SETTING

Outpatient PMS program in a general hospital.

PATIENTS

Twenty-four women who had dysphoric PMS and otherwise were physically and mentally healthy.

INTERVENTIONS

None (except the oral medication).

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE

Prospective daily monitoring of symptoms with the Daily Rating Form, before, during, and after treatment.

RESULTS

Twenty of 23 anovulatory periods were symptom-free versus 6 of 32 ovulatory periods (chi 2 = 15.63, P = 0.0002).

CONCLUSION

The beneficial effect of danazol as treatment depends mostly on achieving an an-ovulatory state and elimination of hormonal cyclicity and not on the drug per se.