title: The oral contraceptive containing 30 microg of ethinylestradiol plus 3 mg of drospirenone is able to antagonize the increase of extracellular water occurring in healthy young women during the luteal phase of the menstrual cycle: an observational study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This nonrandomized study aimed to evaluate body weight and composition during the menstrual cycle and during oral contraception with 30 microg of ethinylestradiol plus 3 mg of drospirenone (EE+DRSP).
  
  
  METHODS
  Multifrequency bioelectrical impedance analysis was carried out in 38 normally cycling women (mean age, 25.5 years) at baseline during the follicular phase (FP) and the luteal phase (LP) of the menstrual cycle and after three and six cycles of EE+DRSP to evaluate total body water (TBW), intracellular water (ICW), extracellular water (ECW), fat mass and fat-free mass. Body weight, waist-to-hip ratio, blood pressure and the plasma concentrations of electrolytes were also determined at each visit.
  
  
  RESULTS
  TBW and ECW increased in the LP. During EE+DRSP, TBW and ECW were significantly lower than in the LP but similar to the values measured in the FP. No significant variations in ICW or in the other parameters were observed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  EE+DRSP maintains the same concentrations in TBW and ECW observed in the FP. This effect is likely due to the antimineralocorticoid activity of DRSP, which counteracts the water retention elicited by estrogen.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Pisa, 56100 Pisa, Italy. ffruzzi@tin.it
authors.forename: Franca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Fruzzetti
authors.forename: Stefano
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lello
authors.forename: Veronica
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Lazzarini
authors.forename: Stefania
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Fratta
authors.forename: Marisa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Orrù
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Sorge
authors.forename: Luigi
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Minerba
authors.forename: Cabiria
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ricci
authors.forename: Andrea Riccardo
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Genazzani
authors.forename: Gian Benedetto
authors.initials: GB
authors.lastname: Melis
authors.forename: Anna Maria
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Paoletti
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000736:Androstenes / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001823:Body Composition / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D001834:Body Water / Q000378:metabolism*; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects; D003277:Contraceptives, Oral, Combined; D017097:Electric Impedance; D004967:Estrogens / Q000494:pharmacology; D004997:Ethinyl Estradiol / Q000494:pharmacology*; D045604:Extracellular Fluid / Q000187:drug effects*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007424:Intracellular Fluid / Q000378:metabolism; D008183:Luteal Phase / Q000378:metabolism; D000451:Mineralocorticoid Receptor Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology; D008901:Mineralocorticoids / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*
chemical_list: D000736:Androstenes; D003277:Contraceptives, Oral, Combined; D004967:Estrogens; D000451:Mineralocorticoid Receptor Antagonists; D008901:Mineralocorticoids; D004997:Ethinyl Estradiol; C035144:drospirenone