New Swedish treatment, dedicated to severe PMS and currently under study, could help people with very severe symptoms
A treatment to alleviate premenstrual syndrome, and more specifically, Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder (PMDD)? A few days before their period, some people may experience disabling symptoms: this is the famous premenstrual syndrome (PMS). These symptoms can be physical (sore breasts, weight gain, swelling, stomach aches, pain in the kidneys) but also emotional (sadness, lack of energy, crying attacks, irritability, impatience). Among people who suffer from PMS, some are even more severely affected.
This is known as Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder (PMDD). The latter is so intense that one then feels a real psychological distress. According to the article "Premenstrual dysphoric disorder", dating from 2019, 20 to 50% of women of childbearing age suffer from PMS, and 5% suffer from PMDD. In 2002, Doctissimo recalls, the Women's Nutritional Advisory Service had shown that out of 400 cis women suffering from PMS, 57% of them had already had suicidal thoughts.
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Promising new drugs against premenstrual dysphoric disorder
This is a major step forward. A treatment to alleviate mental symptoms was found by researchers at the University of Uppsala (Sweden), reports the site EurekAlert !, December 10, 2020. Their study sheds light on the beneficial effects of a new class drug called "progesterone receptor modulator". The treatment tested, ulipristal acetate (UPA), would act on the progesterone receptors by binding to them and inhibiting them. “Progesterone is another 'female' hormone that is used to prepare the uterus for pregnancy. It is produced in the second half of the menstrual cycle after ovulation, when its levels rise for a few days and then fall during pregnancy. lack of fertilization ", indicates the chu-Toulouse. This process is already used for a class of drugs developed to treat uterine fibroids and endometriosis.
The results published on December 10 in the American Journal of Psychiatry explain that "The progesterone receptor modulator primarily reduces mental symptoms of PMDD, such as irritability and depression." To schematize these data, in a clinical trial, 95 women with PMDD were treated with 5 mg / day of the new treatment or placebo for three 28-day treatment cycles. Result: "Half of the women who received the treatment saw improvement in mental symptoms compared to only 21% of those who received the placebo. A statistically significant difference.", notes the study.
Now, scientists are continuing their MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) analysis to determine how the treatment mechanism at the progesterone receptors alleviates symptoms. Based on conclusions showing that the side effects would be minimal, this treatment could be an alternative to the treatment proposed today. "serotonin reuptake inhibitors", carrier of adverse effects in several cases.