--- title: Does a trimonthly birth control pill cost less than a regular pill? description: Yes, trimonthly pills appear to save money for both society and individual women, but only if they cost about the same as regular pills. url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/economics-of-reducing-menstruation-with-trimonthly-cycle-oral-contraceptive-2003/ --- - [Niyora](https://niyora.com/) - [Research](https://niyora.com/research/) - [Library](https://niyora.com/research/library/) - Does a trimonthly birth control pill cost less than a regular pill? Survey study, 2003 # Does a trimonthly birth control pill cost less than a regular pill? Yes, trimonthly pills appear to save money for both society and individual women, but only if they cost about the same as regular pills. Early or limited evidence 59 adult women taking standard birth control pills at a community gynecology office. ## What they did Researchers created three economic models using cost data from survey responses of 59 women taking standard birth control pills. They estimated annual costs for both trimonthly pills (which reduce periods to four per year) and standard birth control pills (which keep monthly periods). ## What they found Annual costs per person from society's perspective were $460 for trimonthly pills and $501 for standard pills, saving $41 per year. From the patient's perspective, trimonthly pills cost $95 per year and standard pills cost $136 per year, saving $41. Trimonthly pills remained cost-saving as long as their price did not exceed a 9% premium over standard pills. The savings depended heavily on how much trimonthly pills reduced the use of menstrual hygiene products. ## What it means for you Trimonthly pills could save money if priced similarly to regular pills, especially for patients. However, the savings depend on women using fewer menstrual products with less frequent periods, which may vary. This was an economic model based on survey data, not a study of how well the pills actually work. $460 annual societal cost for trimonthly pills $501 annual societal cost for standard pills $41 annual patient savings with trimonthly pills ## About the study Original title Economics of reducing menstruation with trimonthly-cycle oral contraceptive therapy: comparison with standard-cycle regimens Authors Braunstein JB, Hausfeld J, Hausfeld J et al. Journal Obstetrics and gynecology Year 2003 Study design Survey study Participants 59 What was tested Comparison of cost between trimonthly birth control pills and standard birth control pills. Read the paper [doi.org/10.1016/s0029-7844(03)00738-5](https://doi.org/10.1016/s0029-7844(03)00738-5) ## Topics [Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pms/)[Oral contraceptives and drospirenone](https://niyora.com/research/topics/treatment-hormonal-contraceptives/)[Economic burden](https://niyora.com/research/topics/life-area-economic-burden/) 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 Guideline, 2023 How are GnRH agonists used to treat PMDD that doesn't respond to standard medications? Survey study, 2006 How common is premenstrual syndrome and what factors put women at higher risk? Survey study, 1982 How common are premenstrual symptoms in American women, and what factors affect them? Cohort study, 2010 How do anxiety disorders differ across different life stages? Study, 2010 Which PMDD medication is most cost-effective? Study, 2007 Could a plant from Costa Rica help with period pain and PMS? Ask AI about this page Copy prompt ChatGPT ↗ Claude ↗ Perplexity ↗ Google AI Mode ↗ Grok ↗