Non-randomised trial, 2007
Can a birth control pill with ethinylestradiol and drospirenone reduce water retention in PMS?
The pill significantly reduced total body water and extracellular water after 6 months. This was a small study without a placebo control, so we cannot be certain the improvement was due to the pill.
What they did
18 women with PMS took a birth control pill containing 30 micrograms of ethinylestradiol plus 3 mg of drospirenone for 6 months. Their body composition was measured at baseline, during the luteal phase, and after 3 and 6 months of treatment. Results were compared to 31 healthy women without PMS.
What they found
Before treatment, PMS patients had higher total body water and intracellular water than control women. After 6 months on the pill, total body water and extracellular water were significantly lower than before treatment. Intracellular water and other measurements including body weight, waist-to-hip ratio, and blood pressure did not change significantly.
What it means for you
This pill may reduce fluid accumulation in PMS by blocking a hormone called aldosterone. However, this was a small uncontrolled study that measured body composition rather than asking women about their actual symptoms, so it's unclear whether the reduction in body water would relieve water retention feelings.
18
women with PMS
6
months of treatment
31
healthy control women
About the study
- Original title
- Effect of an oral contraceptive containing 30 microg ethinylestradiol plus 3 mg drospirenone on body composition of young women affected by premenstrual syndrome with symptoms of water retention
- Authors
- Fruzzetti F, Lazzarini V, Ricci C et al.
- Journal
- Contraception
- Year
- 2007
- Study design
- Non-randomised trial
- Participants
- 31
- What was tested
- Birth control pill containing 30 micrograms ethinylestradiol plus 3 mg drospirenone for 6 months
- Read the paper
- doi.org/10.1016/j.contraception.2007.05.080
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