---
title: Can a birth control pill with ethinylestradiol and drospirenone reduce water retention in PMS?
description: The pill significantly reduced total body water and extracellular water after 6 months. This was a small study without a placebo control, so we cannot be cert
url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/effect-of-an-oral-contraceptive-containing-30-microg-ethinylestradiol-plus-3-mg-2007/
---

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- Can a birth control pill with ethinylestradiol and drospirenone reduce water retention in PMS?

Non-randomised trial, 2007

# Can a birth control pill with ethinylestradiol and drospirenone reduce water retention in PMS?

The pill significantly reduced total body water and extracellular water after 6 months. This was a small study without a placebo control, so we cannot be certain the improvement was due to the pill.

 Early or limited evidence

18 women with PMS (mean age 28.8 years) compared to 31 healthy women without PMS

## What they did

18 women with PMS took a birth control pill containing 30 micrograms of ethinylestradiol plus 3 mg of drospirenone for 6 months. Their body composition was measured at baseline, during the luteal phase, and after 3 and 6 months of treatment. Results were compared to 31 healthy women without PMS.

## What they found

Before treatment, PMS patients had higher total body water and intracellular water than control women. After 6 months on the pill, total body water and extracellular water were significantly lower than before treatment. Intracellular water and other measurements including body weight, waist-to-hip ratio, and blood pressure did not change significantly.

## What it means for you

This pill may reduce fluid accumulation in PMS by blocking a hormone called aldosterone. However, this was a small uncontrolled study that measured body composition rather than asking women about their actual symptoms, so it's unclear whether the reduction in body water would relieve water retention feelings.

18

women with PMS

6

months of treatment

31

healthy control women

## About the study

Original title Effect of an oral contraceptive containing 30 microg ethinylestradiol plus 3 mg drospirenone on body composition of young women affected by premenstrual syndrome with symptoms of water retention Authors Fruzzetti F, Lazzarini V, Ricci C et al. Journal Contraception Year 2007 Study design Non-randomised trial Participants 31 What was tested Birth control pill containing 30 micrograms ethinylestradiol plus 3 mg drospirenone for 6 months Read the paper [doi.org/10.1016/j.contraception.2007.05.080](https://doi.org/10.1016/j.contraception.2007.05.080)

## Topics

[Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pms/)[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/)[Adolescents and young people](https://niyora.com/research/topics/life-area-adolescents/)

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