Quality of life issues. Potential role for an oral contraceptive containing ethinyl estradiol and drospirenone.

The new combined oral contraceptive containing ethinyl estradiol and drospirenone has the potential for improving a woman's quality of life. Drospirenone's antiandrogenic activity, for example, makes it effective in reducing acne and seborrhea. The majority of reproductive-age women suffer from some degree of premenstrual symptomatology. In some cases, these monthly symptoms are severe enough to negatively impact a woman's quality of life. Drospirenone's antimineralocorticoid activity aids in reducing some of the most bothersome symptoms associated with the premenstrual phase of the menstrual cycle.