Cohort study, 2013
Does this birth control pill help premenstrual symptoms?
Yes, in women with severe premenstrual mood symptoms, this birth control pill improved negative mood, positive mood, swelling, and effect on daily life. Women with no, mild, or moderate symptoms did not benefit.
What they did
Open-label prospective study of 24 women taking a combined birth control pill with norgestimate 250 mcg and ethinyl estradiol 35 mcg in a 21/7 regimen for 3 cycles. Women rated symptoms daily using the Cyclicity Diagnoser scale.
What they found
Women with severe premenstrual mood symptoms showed significant improvement in negative mood, positive mood, swelling, and effect on daily life after 3 cycles. Women with no, mild, or moderate premenstrual symptoms showed no significant improvement or deterioration in any symptom.
What it means for you
This birth control pill helps women with severe PMS, particularly those with severe mood symptoms. The benefit is specific to women with severe baseline symptoms. The main limitation is the lack of a control group and small sample size.
24
women treated
250 mcg
norgestimate dose
35 mcg
ethinyl estradiol dose
About the study
- Original title
- Mood and physical symptoms improve in women with severe cyclical changes by taking an oral contraceptive containing 250-mcg norgestimate and 35-mcg ethinyl estradiol
- Authors
- Nyberg S
- Journal
- Contraception
- Year
- 2013
- Study design
- Cohort study
- Participants
- 24
- What was tested
- Norgestimate 250 mcg plus ethinyl estradiol 35 mcg in 21/7 regimen for 3 cycles
- Read the paper
- doi.org/10.1016/j.contraception.2012.09.024
Topics
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