Non-randomised trial, 2007
Does the contraceptive pill Yasmin ease premenstrual symptoms?
In this study, women reported fewer premenstrual symptoms like low mood, poor concentration and water retention after six months on Yasmin, but because there was no comparison group, we cannot be fully sure the pill itself caused the improvement.
What they did
An open-label study (everyone knew what they were taking, and there was no placebo group) gave 100 women who wanted contraception a pill containing drospirenone and ethinyl estradiol (Yasmin) for up to 6 monthly cycles. Symptoms were measured with a questionnaire (WHAQ) at the start and at each visit, across three phases of the cycle.
What they found
92 of the 100 women completed the study. By cycle 6, in the premenstrual phase there were significant drops in scores for impaired concentration, water retention, negative mood, increased appetite, feeling of well-being, and unwanted hair changes. Similar improvements showed up at the menstrual phase for concentration, mood, well-being and hair changes, and well-being and hair changes improved consistently even after the period ended.
What it means for you
This suggests Yasmin may help with premenstrual symptoms in women who also want contraception, but since there was no control group and everyone knew they were taking the pill, we can't rule out that some of the improvement was due to expectation or the passage of time rather than the drug itself.
100
Women enrolled
92%
Completed the study
6 cycles
Treatment length
About the study
- Original title
- Efficacy of Yasmin in premenstrual symptoms
- Authors
- Taneepanichskul S, Jaisamrarn U, Phupong V
- Journal
- Archives of gynecology and obstetrics
- Year
- 2007
- Study design
- Non-randomised trial
- Participants
- 100
- What was tested
- Yasmin, a contraceptive pill containing drospirenone and ethinyl estradiol, taken for 6 monthly cycles.
- Read the paper
- doi.org/10.1007/s00404-006-0280-6
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