Systematic review, 2012
Does the oral contraceptive drospirenone help women with premenstrual symptoms?
Yes, drospirenone 3 mg plus ethinyl estradiol 20 micrograms reduced premenstrual symptoms more than placebo and improved daily functioning, but it causes more nausea, intermenstrual bleeding, and breast pain.
What they did
Cochrane systematic review searching multiple databases through December 2011 for randomized controlled trials comparing oral contraceptives containing drospirenone to placebo or other contraceptives for premenstrual symptoms. Two reviewers independently extracted data and assessed study quality.
What they found
Five trials with 1920 women total. Two placebo-controlled trials in women with PMDD showed less severe premenstrual symptoms with drospirenone 3 mg plus ethinyl estradiol 20 micrograms compared to placebo (mean difference -7.92, 95% confidence interval -11.16 to -4.67 after 3 months). The drospirenone group had greater reductions in impairment of productivity (mean difference -0.31), social activities (mean difference -0.29), and relationships (mean difference -0.30). More common side effects with drospirenone were nausea (odds ratio 3.15), intermenstrual bleeding (odds ratio 4.92), and breast pain (odds ratio 2.67).
What it means for you
This oral contraceptive can reduce premenstrual symptoms significantly, including impacts on daily functioning like productivity, social activities, and relationships. However, it comes with notable side effects, particularly intermenstrual bleeding and nausea, which women should understand before starting treatment.
1920
Women across 5 trials
-7.92
Symptom reduction vs placebo
4.92
Odds ratio for intermenstrual bleeding
About the study
- Original title
- Oral contraceptives containing drospirenone for premenstrual syndrome
- Authors
- Lopez LM, Kaptein AA, Helmerhorst FM
- Journal
- The Cochrane database of systematic reviews
- Year
- 2012
- Study design
- Systematic review
- What was tested
- Oral contraceptive containing drospirenone 3 mg plus ethinyl estradiol 20 micrograms
- Read the paper
- doi.org/10.1002/14651858.cd006586.pub4
Topics
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