Survey study, 2003
Does a trimonthly birth control pill cost less than a regular pill?
Yes, trimonthly pills appear to save money for both society and individual women, but only if they cost about the same as regular pills.
What they did
Researchers created three economic models using cost data from survey responses of 59 women taking standard birth control pills. They estimated annual costs for both trimonthly pills (which reduce periods to four per year) and standard birth control pills (which keep monthly periods).
What they found
Annual costs per person from society's perspective were $460 for trimonthly pills and $501 for standard pills, saving $41 per year. From the patient's perspective, trimonthly pills cost $95 per year and standard pills cost $136 per year, saving $41. Trimonthly pills remained cost-saving as long as their price did not exceed a 9% premium over standard pills. The savings depended heavily on how much trimonthly pills reduced the use of menstrual hygiene products.
What it means for you
Trimonthly pills could save money if priced similarly to regular pills, especially for patients. However, the savings depend on women using fewer menstrual products with less frequent periods, which may vary. This was an economic model based on survey data, not a study of how well the pills actually work.
$460
annual societal cost for trimonthly pills
$501
annual societal cost for standard pills
$41
annual patient savings with trimonthly pills
About the study
- Original title
- Economics of reducing menstruation with trimonthly-cycle oral contraceptive therapy: comparison with standard-cycle regimens
- Authors
- Braunstein JB, Hausfeld J, Hausfeld J et al.
- Journal
- Obstetrics and gynecology
- Year
- 2003
- Study design
- Survey study
- Participants
- 59
- What was tested
- Comparison of cost between trimonthly birth control pills and standard birth control pills.
- Read the paper
- doi.org/10.1016/s0029-7844(03)00738-5
Topics
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