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.
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.
Fruzzetti
Franca
F
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Pisa, 56100 Pisa, Italy. ffruzzi@tin.it
Lello
Stefano
S
Lazzarini
Veronica
V
Fratta
Stefania
S
Orrù
Marisa
M
Sorge
Roberto
R
Minerba
Luigi
L
Ricci
Cabiria
C
Genazzani
Andrea Riccardo
AR
Melis
Gian Benedetto
GB
Paoletti
Anna Maria
AM
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*
D000736:Androstenes; D003277:Contraceptives, Oral, Combined; D004967:Estrogens; D000451:Mineralocorticoid Receptor Antagonists; D008901:Mineralocorticoids; D004997:Ethinyl Estradiol; C035144:drospirenone