---
title: Which low-dose birth control pill has better cycle control and fewer side effects?
description: Both pills equally reduced period pain and PMS. One type (with desogestrel) had more stable bleeding patterns and less acne than the other (with levonorgestre
url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/cycle-control-quality-of-life-and-acne-with-two-low-dose-oral-contraceptives-2004/
---

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- Which low-dose birth control pill has better cycle control and fewer side effects?

Randomised trial, 2004

# Which low-dose birth control pill has better cycle control and fewer side effects?

Both pills equally reduced period pain and PMS. One type (with desogestrel) had more stable bleeding patterns and less acne than the other (with levonorgestrel). Both were well tolerated overall.

 Strong study design

Women in Germany and the Netherlands taking low-dose oral contraceptives

## What they did

Over 500 women in Germany and the Netherlands took one of two low-dose birth control pills for 6 months. Researchers tracked bleeding patterns, period pain, PMS, and acne. Most participants (78% and 75%) completed the full study.

## What they found

The pill with levonorgestrel caused more irregular bleeding (0.18 vs 0.13 episodes per cycle) and more bleeding-spotting days (0.63 vs 0.48 days per cycle). More women stopped the levonorgestrel pill due to bleeding (13 vs 3). Both pills equally reduced painful periods and PMS. The desogestrel pill caused fewer acne lesions.

## What it means for you

If you use low-dose birth control and want regular periods and clearer skin, desogestrel may work better than levonorgestrel. Both reduce period pain and PMS equally. This comes from a large study in Europe, though results may differ in other populations.

500+

women studied

6

months of treatment

13 vs 3

women who stopped due to bleeding

## About the study

Original title Cycle control, quality of life and acne with two low-dose oral contraceptives containing 20 microg ethinylestradiol Authors Winkler UH, Ferguson H, Mulders JA Journal Contraception Year 2004 Study design Randomised trial Participants 500 What was tested Birth control pills with desogestrel or levonorgestrel, both at 20 micrograms ethinylestradiol Read the paper [doi.org/10.1016/j.contraception.2003.12.017](https://doi.org/10.1016/j.contraception.2003.12.017)

## Topics

[Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pms/)[Dysmenorrhea and period pain](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-dysmenorrhea/)[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/)[Quality of life and daily functioning](https://niyora.com/research/topics/life-area-quality-of-life/)[Adolescents and young people](https://niyora.com/research/topics/life-area-adolescents/)

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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