Randomised trial, 2008
Does drospirenone with ethinyl estradiol birth control help PMDD?
This birth control formulation is the only hormone-based option with large randomized controlled trials proving it works for PMDD and has FDA approval for this use.
What they did
This is a narrative review describing drospirenone/ethinyl estradiol oral contraceptives, their properties, and the evidence base for effects on PMDD and acne. It does not report a single original study.
What they found
Drospirenone 3 mg/ethinyl estradiol 20 micrograms in a 24/4 formulation (24 active pills, 4 inactive pills) is currently the only hormone-based contraceptive with large randomized controlled trials demonstrating efficacy for PMDD. It has FDA approval for pregnancy prevention, PMDD, and moderate acne in women choosing oral contraception.
What it means for you
If you have PMDD and want hormone-based birth control, this formulation has the strongest evidence. This abstract is a review of evidence rather than reporting original research findings, so you would need to read the actual clinical trial reports to see specific results.
3 mg
drospirenone dose
20 micrograms
ethinyl estradiol dose
24/4
active to inactive pill ratio
About the study
- Original title
- Drospirenone/ethinyl estradiol
- Authors
- Rapkin AJ, Sorger SN, Winer SA
- Journal
- Drugs of today (Barcelona, Spain : 1998)
- Year
- 2008
- Study design
- Randomised trial
- What was tested
- Drospirenone 3 mg/ethinyl estradiol 20 micrograms in 24/4 formulation
- Read the paper
- doi.org/10.1358/dot.2008.44.2.1191057
Topics
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