Relationship of ethinylestradiol/drospirenone prescription on work productivity and activity impairment among women with menstruation-related symptoms: A multicenter prospective observational study

Abstract

Abstract Background Although clinical effectiveness of ethinylestradiol (EE)/drospirenone (DRSP) to improve women’s premenstrual symptoms and dysmenorrhea has been established, the relationship with their work productivity and activity is not well-known. This study aimed to examine changes in work productivity and daily activity impairment among women by the medication. Methods Participants were women who were newly prescribed EE/DRSP at 25 private gynecological clinics in Japan. Eligible participants downloaded a smartphone app to record daily intake of EE/DRSP, genital bleeding, and daily symptoms for three months. The Work Productivity Activity Impairment Questionnaire General Health (WPAI-GH) was completed on the day of EE/DRSP initiation and every two weeks thereafter for three months. A linear mixed-effects model with person-specific random intercepts, with age, premenstrual syndrome status, and menstrual pain as covariates, was used. Main Outcome Measures Changes in total work productivity impairment and total activity impairment relative to baseline (i.e., before prescription) at 1 month (1m), 2 months (2m), and 3 months (3m) after EE/DRSP initiation. Results Work productivity impairment recovered by 20.0% (95%CI: 14.1–26.0%) at 1m and maintained for two months. Activity impairment recovered by 20.1% (95% CI:15.5–24.7%) at 1m and thereafter. Conclusions Improvements in work productivity and daily activities were observed at 1m after EE/DRSP initiation, with a sustained effect thereafter.