Non-randomised trial, 2016
Does a low-dose birth control pill help with menstrual pain in women with endometriosis?
Yes. A birth control pill containing drospirenone and ethinylestradiol significantly reduced menstrual pain, pelvic pain, pain with sex, and premenstrual bloating and mood symptoms. The study had no control group, so we cannot be completely certain the improvement was from the pill.
What they did
Prospective non-randomized study of 46 Japanese women with endometriosis treated with a low-dose birth control pill (drospirenone-ethinylestradiol on a 24/4-day regimen) for six treatment cycles. Women rated their pain and symptoms using visual analog scales and questionnaires after three and six cycles.
What they found
Menstrual pain, chronic pelvic pain, and pain with sex were all significantly reduced after three and six treatment cycles compared to baseline (P<0.001 for all). After six cycles, all menstrual symptoms improved significantly, and premenstrual water retention and negative mood also improved significantly (all P<0.05).
What it means for you
This birth control pill may help women with endometriosis manage their menstrual and premenstrual symptoms. However, only Japanese women were studied at one hospital with no control group to compare against, so results may not apply to all women.
46
Number of women in study
6
Number of treatment cycles
P<0.001
Significance for pain reduction at 3 and 6 cycles
About the study
- Original title
- Effects of low-dose combined drospirenone-ethinylestradiol on perimenstrual symptoms experienced by women with endometriosis
- Authors
- Tanaka Y, Mori T, Ito F et al.
- Journal
- International journal of gynaecology and obstetrics: the official organ of the International Federation of Gynaecology and Obstetrics
- Year
- 2016
- Study design
- Non-randomised trial
- Participants
- 46
- What was tested
- Drospirenone-ethinylestradiol birth control pill on 24/4-day regimen for six treatment cycles
- Read the paper
- doi.org/10.1016/j.ijgo.2016.05.004
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