---
title: Does continuous birth control help women with PMDD? | Niyora
description: Continuous birth control pills reduced PMDD symptoms more than placebo. About 52% of women on the pill improved by at least half, compared to 40% on placebo.
url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/continuous-oral-levonorgestrel-ethinyl-estradiol-for-treating-premenstrual-2012/
---

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- Does continuous birth control help women with PMDD?

Randomised trial, 2012

# Does continuous birth control help women with PMDD?

Continuous birth control pills reduced PMDD symptoms more than placebo. About 52% of women on the pill improved by at least half, compared to 40% on placebo.

 Strong study design

186 women with PMDD receiving birth control pill, 181 receiving placebo, from multiple centers

## What they did

Women with PMDD were randomly assigned to take levonorgestrel 90 mcg/ethinyl estradiol 20 mcg (186 women) or placebo (181 women) daily for 112 days. They completed daily symptom rating forms.

## What they found

The birth control pill reduced symptoms more than placebo at the end of the first cycle (-30.52 vs -22.47 on the symptom scale) and during the worst 5 days of the last cycle (-26.77 vs -20.89). More women in the pill group improved by at least 50% (52% vs 40%).

## What it means for you

Taking this birth control pill continuously without breaks reduced PMDD symptoms including mood, physical symptoms, and work problems. These results are from one large trial; more research may help identify which women benefit most.

186

Women in pill group

181

Women in placebo group

52% vs 40%

Responded with at least 50% improvement

## About the study

Original title Continuous oral levonorgestrel/ethinyl estradiol for treating premenstrual dysphoric disorder Authors Halbreich U, Freeman EW, Rapkin AJ et al. Journal Contraception Year 2012 Study design Randomised trial Participants 186 What was tested Levonorgestrel 90 mcg/ethinyl estradiol 20 mcg daily continuously vs placebo for 112 days Read the paper [doi.org/10.1016/j.contraception.2011.05.008](https://doi.org/10.1016/j.contraception.2011.05.008)

## Topics

[Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pms/)[Premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pmdd/)[Low mood and depression](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-depression-mood/)[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.

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