Evaluation of the quality of life and sexual functioning of women using a 30-μg ethinyloestradiol and 3-mg drospirenone combined oral contraceptive

Abstract

Objectives To evaluate the effect of a 30-μg ethinyloestradiol and 3-mg drospirenone (EE 30 μg/drsp 3 mg) combined oral contraceptive (COC) on the quality of life (QoL) and sexual functioning.

Methods Sixty-one women using this COC were assessed. The control group consisted of 65 women using different types of COC. A questionnaire with a Polish version of the Short Form-36 Health Survey (SF-36), Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI) and Mell–Krat Scale (SFK-K) evaluating QoL and sexuality was used as the research tool.

Results QoL indices for women using EE 30 μg/drsp 3 mg scored higher than for the controls and statistically significantly so with regard to improved general health and mood (p < 0.02), and mental health (p < 0.01). Women taking EE 30 μg/drsp 3 mg functioned sexually better, particularly with regard to sexual arousal (p < 0.006). Using the SFK-K scale, sexual dysfunctions were diagnosed in 66.2% of the women in the control group and 48.3% of those in the EE 30 μg/drsp 3 mg group (p < 0.05).

Conclusions The intake of the COC containing 30 μg ethinyloestradiol and 3 mg drospirenone is associated with an improvement of general QoL and female sexual functioning. However, the limitations of this study should be taken into account.

Key words:

• Oral contraceptives
• Drospirenone
• Quality of life
• Sexual functioning