---
title: Does this birth control pill help premenstrual symptoms in Japanese women?
description: Yes, in this study of 48 Japanese women, most premenstrual symptoms improved significantly after 3 and 6 cycles of treatment. The study had no comparison grou
url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/effectiveness-of-ethinylestradiol-drospirenone-for-premenstrual-symptoms-in-2015/
---

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- Does this birth control pill help premenstrual symptoms in Japanese women?

Non-randomised trial, 2015

# Does this birth control pill help premenstrual symptoms in Japanese women?

Yes, in this study of 48 Japanese women, most premenstrual symptoms improved significantly after 3 and 6 cycles of treatment. The study had no comparison group, so we cannot be fully certain of the effect.

 Early or limited evidence

48 Japanese women with dysmenorrhea and premenstrual symptoms

## What they did

Open-label study of 48 Japanese women with dysmenorrhea and premenstrual symptoms. They took a combined birth control pill with ethinylestradiol 20 µg and drospirenone 3 mg in a 24/4 regimen for 6 treatment cycles. Symptoms were measured at baseline and after 3 and 6 cycles.

## What they found

Most premenstrual symptoms were significantly alleviated by three and six cycles of treatment. The birth control pill also significantly improved the severity of dysmenorrhea.

## What it means for you

This birth control pill combination may help women in Japan who have PMS and period pain. The main limitation is that this was an open-label study with no control group for comparison.

48

women treated

6

treatment cycles

20 µg

ethinylestradiol dose

## About the study

Original title Effectiveness of ethinylestradiol/drospirenone for premenstrual symptoms in Japanese patients with dysmenorrhea: Open-label pilot study Authors Takeda T, Kondo A, Koga S et al. Journal The journal of obstetrics and gynaecology research Year 2015 Study design Non-randomised trial What was tested Ethinylestradiol 20 µg plus drospirenone 3 mg in 24/4 regimen for 6 treatment cycles Read the paper [doi.org/10.1111/jog.12774](https://doi.org/10.1111/jog.12774)

## Topics

[Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pms/)[Premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pmdd/)[Dysmenorrhea and period pain](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-dysmenorrhea/)[Low mood and depression](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-depression-mood/)[Oral contraceptives and drospirenone](https://niyora.com/research/topics/treatment-hormonal-contraceptives/)

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