Effect of an oral contraceptive containing ethinyl estradiol and drospirenone on premenstrual symptomatology and health-related quality of life
Borenstein, J.; Yu, H-Ting.; Wade, S.; Chiou, C-Fang.; Rapkin, A.
Journal of Reproductive Medicine 48(2): 79-85
2003
ISSN/ISBN: 0024-7758 PMID: 12621790 Document Number: 246673
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of the oral contraceptive Yasmin(R) (drospirenone, 3 mg, and ethinyl estradiol, 30 mug) (Berlex Laboratories, Wayne, New Jersey) on premenstrual symptomatology and health-related quality of life (HRQoL). STUDY DESIGN: Participating health care providers received 11,260 self-administered surveys for distribution to women initiating use of Yasmin(R). Of these, 1,932 (17.2%) baseline surveys and 1,104 follow-up surveys (57.1%) were returned, with 858 (44.4%) of the returns evaluated as suitable for analysis. RESULTS: Premenstrual symptomatology, as measured with the negative affect and water retention domains of the Moos Menstrual Distress Questionnaire (MDQ), significantly improved from baseline in all phases of the menstrual cycle (P=.000). All individual MDQ items improved significantly in the late luteal phase and during menses (P=.000), and the majority (76.9%) improved significantly in the remainder of the cycle (P<.05). Improvements were also observed in general sense of well-being (P<.05), impairment in usual activities due to premenstrual symptomatology (P<.05) and Mental Component Summary scale (P=.000) but not the Physical Component Summary scale of the Short Form-12 generic HRQoL instrument. CONCLUSION: These data support the effectiveness of Yasmin(R) in reducing premenstrual symptomatology and improving HRQoL and general sense of well-being.