But so did 42 percent of the men taking a placebo.

However, you then have another problem called the placebo effect.

Women had been on placebo for an average of 5.7 years.

Only 3 of 140 patients taking a placebo had similar problems.

We've come to understand that the placebo effect is real.

Both groups did better than a third group that got only a placebo.

The women, on average about age 54, did not know whether they were taking the drug or the placebo.

The most recent were designed to control for placebo effect.

Each group was compared to women who took a placebo.

No significant difference was found between either treatment and placebo.

"This to me is just a placebo for the board and management."

One trial found it to have an effect above placebo.

Six of the pool were given a placebo and had no results.

But women who received the placebo also had an increase - to four a month, from three.

After two years, there was no significant difference between treatment and placebo groups.

Some studies support it, while others show little or no effect when compared with placebo.

But there's a chance that something beyond the placebo effect is also at play.

Those taking a placebo lost an average of five pounds.

I can definitely say it was not a placebo effect.

A placebo effect may play a role in any intervention.

This act of placebo has been an age old tradition.

One group was given the supplements and the other, a placebo.

"The placebo effect can be anywhere from 20 to 40 percent."

First, the drug might truly be no better than a placebo.

"And sometimes this seems to help, though whether it's a placebo effect I'm never sure."