---
title: Does the EE/DRSP birth control pill with shorter placebo days reduce PMS symptoms?
description: The EE/DRSP pill with 24 days of hormones and 4 days of placebo appears to reduce PMS and withdrawal symptoms including mood changes, breast tenderness, heada
url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/extracontraceptive-benefits-of-ee-drsp-yaz-in-24-4-day-regimen-2010/
---

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- Does the EE/DRSP birth control pill with shorter placebo days reduce PMS symptoms?

Review, 2010

# Does the EE/DRSP birth control pill with shorter placebo days reduce PMS symptoms?

The EE/DRSP pill with 24 days of hormones and 4 days of placebo appears to reduce PMS and withdrawal symptoms including mood changes, breast tenderness, headache and pelvic pain. The evidence comes from clinical trials but specific numbers of improvement are not given.

 Early or limited evidence

Women taking oral contraceptives (specific numbers not provided)

## What they did

Review of oral contraceptive formulations, comparing the EE/DRSP 24+4 regimen to standard contraceptives.

## What they found

EE/DRSP with a shorter hormone-free period reduced hormone fluctuations and withdrawal symptoms. Clinical trials showed improvements in premenstrual symptoms, acne, and excessive hair growth.

## What it means for you

Reducing the number of placebo days may help PMS symptoms by keeping hormone levels more stable, but this is a review summarizing existing trials, not a new study with specific results.

24

Days with hormones (vs 21 standard)

4

Days with placebo (vs 7 standard)

3

Days longer hormone period than standard

## About the study

Original title [Extracontraceptive benefits of EE/DRSP (Yaz) in 24+4 day regimen] Authors Bruni Bresciani V Journal Minerva ginecologica Year 2010 Study design Review What was tested EE/DRSP oral contraceptive in 24+4 day regimen Read the paper [https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20595950/](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20595950/)

## 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/)[Pain and headache](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-pain/)[Oral contraceptives and drospirenone](https://niyora.com/research/topics/treatment-hormonal-contraceptives/)

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.

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Do hormonal contraceptives reduce PMS symptoms?

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