Non-randomised trial, 2007
Does a birth control pill with drospirenone reduce water retention symptoms?
Yes. Women taking this pill had significant reduction in water retention symptoms during the premenstrual and menstrual phases, with no weight gain.
What they did
Prospective study at 26 Canadian centers over 6 treatment cycles. 305 women were tracked for body weight. Separately, 43 women with significant water retention symptoms were tracked for symptom severity using a standard questionnaire.
What they found
In women with water retention symptoms, the symptom score dropped from 6.49 to 3.19 in the premenstrual phase and from 4.70 to 2.35 in the menstrual phase. Both reductions were statistically significant. Body weight in the full group increased only 0.14 kg on average, which was not statistically significant.
What it means for you
This specific birth control pill can help reduce water retention and bloating if that is a major problem for you, and you will not gain weight from it. However, because this was not a randomized controlled trial, we cannot rule out placebo effect. The results apply only to this specific pill formulation.
305
Total women in the study
43
Women with significant water retention
6
Treatment cycles
About the study
- Original title
- A Canadian multicentre prospective study on the effects of an oral contraceptive containing 3 mg drospirenone and 30 microg ethinyl oestradiol on somatic and psychological symptoms related to water retention and on body weight
- Authors
- Endrikat J, Sandri M, Gerlinger C et al.
- Journal
- The European journal of contraception & reproductive health care : the official journal of the European Society of Contraception
- Year
- 2007
- Study design
- Non-randomised trial
- Participants
- 305
- What was tested
- Oral contraceptive containing 3 mg drospirenone and 30 microg ethinyl estradiol for 6 treatment cycles
- Read the paper
- doi.org/10.1080/13625180701440818
Topics
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