Study, 2003
Can a specific birth control pill help with PMS symptoms?
Yes. In this study, 80% of women taking a pill containing drospirenone and ethinylestradiol reported improvement, and 75% said they were satisfied with the treatment.
What they did
336 women with PMS symptoms took an oral contraceptive containing 3 mg drospirenone and 30 micrograms ethinylestradiol (Yasmin) for six 28-day cycles. Researchers measured mood, physical symptoms like bloating and breast tenderness, and body weight.
What they found
Mood improved by cycle 3 and stayed improved at cycle 6. There was a clear reduction in bloating and breast tension. 80% of the women improved on treatment. 75% of women said they were satisfied. Body weight stayed the same or decreased slightly. The pill provided good cycle control.
What it means for you
This pill appears to help with PMS symptoms including mood and bloating. However, this study had no comparison group (no women received a placebo), so some improvement might be from expecting to feel better rather than from the pill itself. A larger study comparing this pill to a placebo would give stronger evidence.
336
Women enrolled
80%
Reported improvement on treatment
75%
Satisfied with treatment
About the study
- Original title
- Effect of an oral contraceptive containing drospirenone and ethinylestradiol on general well-being and fluid-related symptoms
- Authors
- Apter D, Borsos A, Baumgärtner W et al.
- Journal
- The European journal of contraception & reproductive health care : the official journal of the European Society of Contraception
- Year
- 2003
- Study design
- Study
- Participants
- 336
- What was tested
- Drospirenone 3 mg and ethinylestradiol 30 micrograms oral contraceptive (Yasmin) for six 28-day cycles
- Read the paper
- doi.org/10.1080/ejc.8.1.37.51
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