Effects of two different oral contraceptives on total body water: a randomized study

PurposeThis open-label, randomized study evaluated the effect of two different oral contraceptives on body weight and composition during one cycle of treatment.MethodEighty women (mean age, 24.6 years) were randomized into three groups and given one of the following contraceptive methods: ethinylestradiol 15 μg/gestodene 60 μg (EE/GST, n=25), ethinylestradiol 30 μg/drospirenone 3 mg (EE/DRS, n=29) or male condom (control group, n=26). Bioelectric impedance analysis (BIA) was carried out on the first, 10th and 21st days during the use of oral contraceptives or in the menstrual cycle (control group), and total body water (TBW), fat mass (FM) and fat-free mass (FFM) were measured.ResultsNo significant variations in TBW, FM or FFM were observed in the three groups during the cycle. Intergroup analysis showed no differences in TBW or FM; however, users of EE/GST showed a statistically significant increase in FFM compared to the control group.ConclusionThe different doses of ethinylestradiol associated with gestodene or drospirenone showed no statistically significant effects on TBW or FM during one cycle of observation.