--- title: Does birth control with drospirenone help premenstrual symptoms? description: Birth control containing drospirenone plus low-dose estrogen may reduce PMDD symptoms after 3 months, but the improvement is modest and the placebo also helpe url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/oral-contraceptives-containing-drospirenone-for-premenstrual-syndrome-2008/ --- - [Niyora](https://niyora.com/) - [Research](https://niyora.com/research/) - [Library](https://niyora.com/research/library/) - Does birth control with drospirenone help premenstrual symptoms? Systematic review, 2008 # Does birth control with drospirenone help premenstrual symptoms? Birth control containing drospirenone plus low-dose estrogen may reduce PMDD symptoms after 3 months, but the improvement is modest and the placebo also helped significantly. Strong study design 1600 women across 5 randomized controlled trials, including women with PMDD ## What they did Systematic review of 5 randomized controlled trials comparing birth control pills containing drospirenone to placebo or other birth control pills. Total of 1600 women studied. ## What they found Two trials in women with PMDD lasting 3 months showed less severe symptoms with drospirenone plus 20 micrograms ethinyl estradiol compared to placebo. Women on drospirenone had greater improvement in work productivity, social activities, and relationships. Common side effects included nausea, bleeding between periods, and breast pain. A 6-month study showed fewer symptoms with drospirenone, but a 2-year trial found the groups were similar. When drospirenone was compared to other birth control pills instead of placebo, little effect was found. ## What it means for you Drospirenone-containing birth control may help women with PMDD in the short term, but we do not know if the benefit lasts longer, if it helps milder symptoms, or if it works better than other birth control pills. Larger, longer trials of higher quality are needed. 5 randomized controlled trials 1600 women total 3 months duration of main trials ## About the study Original title Oral contraceptives containing drospirenone for premenstrual syndrome Authors Lopez LM, Kaptein A, Helmerhorst FM Journal The Cochrane database of systematic reviews Year 2008 Study design Systematic review What was tested oral contraceptive containing drospirenone and ethinyl estradiol Read the paper [doi.org/10.1002/14651858.cd006586.pub2](https://doi.org/10.1002/14651858.cd006586.pub2) ## Topics [Premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pmdd/)[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 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? Systematic review, 2022 What are the best treatments for PMDD and PMS? Ask AI about this page Copy prompt ChatGPT ↗ Claude ↗ Perplexity ↗ Google AI Mode ↗ Grok ↗