--- title: Do extended-cycle birth control pills reduce premenstrual symptoms compared to regular pills? description: Yes. Women taking extended-cycle pills (periods only 4 times a year) had significantly fewer premenstrual-type symptoms, with the greatest improvement in wome url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/oral-contraceptives-and-premenstrual-symptoms-comparison-of-a-21-7-and-extended-2006/ --- - [Niyora](https://niyora.com/) - [Research](https://niyora.com/research/) - [Library](https://niyora.com/research/library/) - Do extended-cycle birth control pills reduce premenstrual symptoms compared to regular pills? Non-randomised trial, 2006 # Do extended-cycle birth control pills reduce premenstrual symptoms compared to regular pills? Yes. Women taking extended-cycle pills (periods only 4 times a year) had significantly fewer premenstrual-type symptoms, with the greatest improvement in women who had the most severe cyclic mood changes on regular pills. Moderate study design 114 women taking drosperinone 3mg and ethinyl estradiol 30 micrograms (111 completed standard phase, 102 completed extended phase) ## What they did 114 women took a standard 21-day-on/7-day-off birth control pill for one cycle, then switched to taking the same pill continuously for 168 days with only one brief hormone-free break. Researchers measured mood and symptoms daily using two rating scales throughout both periods. ## What they found 111 women completed the standard 21/7 phase. Symptoms and mood peaked during the 7-day hormone-free interval in standard cycles. 102 women completed the 168-day extended phase (92% completion rate). Premenstrual-type symptoms decreased significantly during the extended regimen compared to standard 21/7 cycles. The greatest improvement appeared in the sixth month. Women with the largest cyclic mood variation on standard pills showed the most improvement on extended pills. 54% of women had marked cyclic mood changes during the 21/7 regimen. ## What it means for you Taking birth control continuously or nearly continuously may reduce premenstrual-type symptoms, especially for women whose symptoms vary a lot with their cycle. Symptoms improve mainly in later months of continuous dosing. The study did not use a placebo comparison group. 114 Women who began the study 102 Women who completed extended phase 168 days Duration of extended regimen ## About the study Original title Oral contraceptives and premenstrual symptoms: comparison of a 21/7 and extended regimen Authors Coffee AL, Kuehl TJ, Willis S et al. Journal American journal of obstetrics and gynecology Year 2006 Study design Non-randomised trial Participants 114 What was tested Switch from 21/7 to 168-day extended pill regimen Read the paper [doi.org/10.1016/j.ajog.2006.05.012](https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ajog.2006.05.012) ## Topics [Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pms/)[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. ## Related studies Randomised trial, 2024 Does estetrol/drospirenone birth control improve PMS symptoms? Systematic review, 2024 What are the best treatments for PMDD and PMS? Review, 2024 What are the most effective treatments for PMDD? Systematic review, 2023 What hormonal treatments have been tested for PMDD, menstrual migraine, and catamenial epilepsy? Systematic review, 2023 How common are menstrual cycle problems and PMS or PMDD in female athletes? Guideline, 2023 How are GnRH agonists used to treat PMDD that doesn't respond to standard medications? Ask AI about this page Copy prompt ChatGPT ↗ Claude ↗ Perplexity ↗ Google AI Mode ↗ Grok ↗