Randomised trial, 2005
Does a low-dose birth control pill with drospirenone help PMDD?
Yes, the pill reduced symptoms significantly more than placebo. On average, 8 women need to take it for 1 to experience major improvement (50% symptom reduction).
What they did
450 women with PMDD were randomly assigned to take either a birth control pill with drospirenone 3 mg and ethinyl estradiol 20 mcg (24 days active pills, 4 days inactive) or placebo. Symptoms were charted daily for 3 treatment cycles after 2 run-in cycles.
What they found
Total symptom scores decreased 37.49 with the pill versus 29.99 with placebo. Mood improved 19.2 versus 15.3. Physical symptoms improved 10.7 versus 8.6. Behavioral symptoms improved 7.7 versus 6.2. About 48% of pill users had at least 50% symptom improvement versus 36% with placebo. Number needed to treat was 8.
What it means for you
The pill works better than placebo for PMDD, though benefits are modest. The number needed to treat of 8 means 8 women need treatment for 1 to see major improvement. This is a large, high-quality trial.
450
women randomized
48%
pill users improved, versus 36% placebo
8
number needed to treat
About the study
- Original title
- Efficacy of a new low-dose oral contraceptive with drospirenone in premenstrual dysphoric disorder
- Authors
- Yonkers KA, Brown C, Pearlstein TB et al.
- Journal
- Obstetrics and gynecology
- Year
- 2005
- Study design
- Randomised trial
- Participants
- 450
- What was tested
- Drospirenone 3 mg with ethinyl estradiol 20 mcg (24/4 regimen) versus placebo
- Read the paper
- doi.org/10.1097/01.aog.0000175834.77215.2e
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