Progesterone treatment during the early follicular phase of the menstrual cycle: Effects on smoking behavior in women

The goals of this study were (1) to examine the feasibility of administerin g progesterone to women during the early follicular phase when the endogeno us estradiol and progesterone levels are low, and (2) to investigate the ef fects of oral progesterone treatment on smoking behavior in female smokers. Twelve subjects had two experimental sessions, within 3-9 days after the b eginning of their menses. In each experimental session, subjects received a single 200-mg dose of progesterone or placebo, orally. Two and a half hour s: after the medication treatment, subjects were assessed for subjective re sponse to two puffs of a cigarette and then started the self-administration period in which they had the option to exchange their token for two puffs of cigarette, 15 min apart. Subjects had low levels of estradiol and proges terone before the first and second sessions. Plasma progesterone levels pea ked in 2 h following progesterone treatment. Progesterone treatment attenua ted the craving for and subjective effects from smoking. Under progesterone treatment, there was a trend for decreased smoking behavior. These prelimi nary results suggest that the early follicular phase of the menstrual cycle may be a useful interval to investigate the effects of exogenous progester one in female smokers. The effects of progesterone on nicotine dependence n eed to be studied further. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Inc. All rights reserv ed.