Survey study, 2000
Does the birth control pill with drospirenone improve mood and skin during the cycle?
Yes. Women who took drospirenone-containing pills reported feeling worse, having worse skin and hair, and weighing more after they stopped and switched to standard pills.
What they did
Women who had completed clinical trials were surveyed after the trials ended about how they felt and looked. They answered questions comparing how they felt while taking drospirenone pills versus conventional pills.
What they found
Women reported feeling worse during their period, having worse skin and hair, and weighing more after stopping drospirenone pills. They reported better mood, weight, skin, and hair while taking drospirenone compared to conventional pills.
What it means for you
Drospirenone-containing pills may improve some women's mood and skin during their cycle and reduce bloating. The main limits are that this is based on women remembering and reporting their feelings rather than objective measurements, and only trial participants were surveyed.
30 micrograms
ethinylestradiol in drospirenone pill
3 mg
drospirenone dose
150 micrograms
desogestrel in conventional pill
About the study
- Original title
- The acceptability of a novel oral contraceptive containing drospirenone and its effect on well-being
- Authors
- Boschitsch E, Skarabis H, Wuttke W et al.
- Journal
- The European journal of contraception & reproductive health care : the official journal of the European Society of Contraception
- Year
- 2000
- Study design
- Survey study
- Open access
- Yes
- Read the paper
- doi.org/10.1080/14730782.2000.12288988
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