Effect of an oral contraceptive containing ethinyl estradiol and drospirenone on premenstrual symptomatology and health-related quality of life.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the effect of the oral contraceptive Yasmin (drospirenone, 3 mg, and ethinyl estradiol, 30 micrograms) (Berlex Laboratories, Wayne, New Jersey) on premenstrual symptomatology and health-related quality of life (HRQoL).


METHODS
Participating health care providers received 11,260 self-administered surveys for distribution to women initiating use of Yasmin. 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.


CONCLUSIONS
These data support the effectiveness of Yasmin in reducing premenstrual symptomatology and improving HRQoL and general sense of well-being.
Borenstein
Jeff
J
Departments of Internal Medicine and Health Services Research (Zynx Health), Cedars-Sinai Health System, 9100 Wilshire Boulevard, Suite 655E, Beverly Hills, CA 90212, USA.
Yu
Hsing-Ting
HT
Wade
Sally
S
Chiou
Chiun-Fang
CF
Rapkin
Andrea
A
D000328:Adult; D000736:Androstenes / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003277:Contraceptives, Oral, Combined / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D004997:Ethinyl Estradiol / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D011293:Premenstrual Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D011336:Probability; D011788:Quality of Life; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000736:Androstenes; D003277:Contraceptives, Oral, Combined; D004997:Ethinyl Estradiol; C035144:drospirenone