---
title: Does birth control containing drospirenone reduce premenstrual symptoms?
description: In this study, birth control containing drospirenone (3 mg) reduced mood-related symptoms and water retention by the sixth cycle. Without a control group, we
url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/a-new-monophasic-oral-contraceptive-containing-drospirenone-effect-on-2002/
---

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- Does birth control containing drospirenone reduce premenstrual symptoms?

Non-randomised trial, 2002

# Does birth control containing drospirenone reduce premenstrual symptoms?

In this study, birth control containing drospirenone (3 mg) reduced mood-related symptoms and water retention by the sixth cycle. Without a control group, we cannot be certain these improvements were caused by the pill rather than placebo effect.

 Moderate study design

326 healthy women aged 18-35 wanting oral contraception

## What they did

326 healthy women aged 18-35 took drospirenone (3 mg) plus ethinyl estradiol (30 micrograms) for 13 menstrual cycles. They completed a 23-item symptom questionnaire at the start and at the end of cycle 6 to track changes in premenstrual symptoms.

## What they found

By the end of cycle 6, premenstrual and menstrual negative mood and water retention were significantly reduced. Increased appetite during the premenstrual and menstrual phases also improved. Impaired concentration did not significantly improve, and feelings of well-being and undesirable hair changes did not change much.

## What it means for you

Birth control containing drospirenone may help improve mood and reduce water retention for women experiencing premenstrual changes who also want contraception. The main limitation is the lack of a control or placebo group. Improvements might occur with any consistent treatment or even without treatment.

326

women enrolled

13

menstrual cycles of treatment

6

cycle when improvements measured

## About the study

Original title A new monophasic oral contraceptive containing drospirenone. Effect on premenstrual symptoms Authors Brown C, Ling F, Wan J Journal The Journal of reproductive medicine Year 2002 Study design Non-randomised trial Participants 326 What was tested Drospirenone 3 mg + ethinyl estradiol 30 micrograms for 13 cycles Read the paper [https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11838304/](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11838304/)

## Topics

[Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pms/)[Menstrual cycle and mood](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-cycle-mood/)[Appetite and food cravings](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-food-cravings/)[Bloating, breast tenderness and physical symptoms](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-physical-symptoms/)[Oral contraceptives and drospirenone](https://niyora.com/research/topics/treatment-hormonal-contraceptives/)

Research tells you what helps on average. Niyora helps on the day it hits.

Calm down, see it another way, and decide what to say, with a PMS and PMDD app built by a doctor.

## Related studies

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Systematic review, 2012

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