Case report, 2005
Can drospirenone birth control help severe PMS with brain swelling and seizures?
In one woman with severe PMS including brain swelling and seizures, treatment with an oral contraceptive containing drospirenone significantly reduced all symptoms and prevented the brain swelling and seizures.
What they did
Described a 32-year-old woman with severe PMS that included brain swelling and seizures before menstruation. Doctors measured her hormone levels throughout her cycle, then gave her an oral contraceptive containing drospirenone and measured her hormone levels again in the next cycle.
What they found
Before treatment, she had extremely high progesterone, prolactin, and insulin levels in the late luteal phase. In days 29-31 of her cycle, progesterone and insulin dropped sharply and the estradiol/progesterone ratio changed, triggering seizures and her worst symptoms. After starting the oral contraceptive with drospirenone, all symptoms were significantly reduced and she had no brain swelling or seizures.
What it means for you
This birth control pill might help women with very severe PMS that includes brain swelling and seizures. The main limitation is that this is just one case, and the woman had other serious medical conditions, so the results might not apply to others.
32
woman's age in years
days 29-31
cycle timing of worst symptoms
About the study
- Original title
- Drospirenone in the treatment of severe premenstrual cerebral edema in a woman with antiphospholipid syndrome, lateral sinus thrombosis, situs inversus and epileptic seizures
- Authors
- Vujović S, Zidverc J, Stojanović M et al.
- Journal
- Gynecological endocrinology : the official journal of the International Society of Gynecological Endocrinology
- Year
- 2005
- Study design
- Case report
- What was tested
- Oral contraceptive containing drospirenone
- Read the paper
- doi.org/10.1080/09513590500361853
Topics
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