From the Research
No, the drospirenone/estradiol combination pill does not lower estradiol levels on a blood test; in fact, it may increase them. This combination pill contains synthetic estradiol (typically ethinyl estradiol or estradiol valerate) along with drospirenone, a progestin. When you take this medication, you're adding exogenous estrogen to your body, which can result in higher, not lower, estradiol readings on blood tests. Blood tests measure both your natural estradiol and the synthetic estrogen from the pill. This is why healthcare providers typically recommend stopping hormonal contraceptives for at least one month before testing hormone levels if they want to assess your natural hormone production. The purpose of the estrogen component in these pills is to provide adequate estrogen to prevent breakthrough bleeding and other symptoms of low estrogen, while the progestin component primarily works to prevent ovulation and pregnancy. If you need to know your baseline estradiol levels for medical reasons, discuss with your healthcare provider about temporarily discontinuing the pill before testing.
Some key points to consider:
- The drospirenone/estradiol combination pill is designed to provide adequate estrogen to prevent symptoms of low estrogen, which means it will increase estradiol levels in the body 1.
- The pill's effect on estradiol levels is not just limited to the synthetic estrogen component, as the drospirenone component can also affect the body's natural hormone production 2.
- Healthcare providers typically recommend stopping hormonal contraceptives for at least one month before testing hormone levels to assess natural hormone production 3.
- The drospirenone/estradiol combination pill has been shown to have various effects on the body, including changes in blood pressure and autonomic tone, but its primary effect on estradiol levels is an increase 4, 5.
In terms of the most recent and highest quality study, a 2020 study published in Contraception found that the drospirenone/estradiol combination pill increases estradiol levels in the body 1. This study provides strong evidence for the pill's effect on estradiol levels and supports the recommendation to temporarily discontinue the pill before testing hormone levels.