---
title: Do different types of birth control pills work differently for PMS?
description: All three pills helped PMS symptoms compared to before treatment. The desogestrel pill caused less mood swings, while the triphasic pill caused fewer physical
url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/oral-contraceptives-in-premenstrual-syndrome-a-randomized-comparison-of-1992/
---

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- Do different types of birth control pills work differently for PMS?

Randomised trial, 1992

# Do different types of birth control pills work differently for PMS?

All three pills helped PMS symptoms compared to before treatment. The desogestrel pill caused less mood swings, while the triphasic pill caused fewer physical complaints.

 Moderate study design

37 women (32 completed) with cyclical mood changes and PMS

## What they did

A randomized, single-blind crossover study comparing three birth control pills (one monophasic desogestrel and two levonorgestrel pills: monophasic and triphasic) in 37 women with PMS or PMS-like symptoms. Women tracked symptoms for one cycle before treatment, then two cycles on each pill.

## What they found

All pills improved PMS compared to the pre-treatment period. The monophasic desogestrel pill showed fewer changes in mood symptoms than both levonorgestrel pills. Physical complaints were reported less often with the triphasic pill than with the monophasic desogestrel pill.

## What it means for you

Different birth control pills may have different effects on PMS symptoms, so if one doesn't work well, another might. The main limit is the small sample size and short duration of treatment testing (two cycles per pill).

37

women enrolled

32

completed study

2

cycles tested per pill

## About the study

Original title Oral contraceptives in premenstrual syndrome: a randomized comparison of triphasic and monophasic preparations Authors Bäckström T, Hansson-Malmström Y, Lindhe BA et al. Journal Contraception Year 1992 Study design Randomised trial Participants 37 What was tested Three birth control pills: monophasic desogestrel, monophasic levonorgestrel, and triphasic levonorgestrel Read the paper [doi.org/10.1016/0010-7824(92)90006-f](https://doi.org/10.1016/0010-7824(92)90006-f)

## Topics

[Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pms/)[Premenstrual exacerbation (PME)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pme/)[Menstrual cycle and mood](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-cycle-mood/)[Oral contraceptives and drospirenone](https://niyora.com/research/topics/treatment-hormonal-contraceptives/)

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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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