The effects of a low-dose gestodene-containing oral contraceptive on endometrial histology in healthy women.
OBJECTIVE
In women who use oral contraceptives with low estrogen doses, a quiescent endometrium is frequently produced. Further reduction of the estrogen dose would not be expected to alter this effect. In this open-label study, the effects on the endometrium of a monophasic oral contraceptive containing 75 micrograms gestodene and 20 micrograms ethinylestradiol were assessed.


METHODS
Biopsies were performed on 25 women on therapy. The biopsies were performed during the late luteal phase (last 7 days) in the pretreatment cycle and during days 15-21 in cycle 6 for 13 subjects (Group A) and during days 15-21 in cycle 3 and during the late luteal phase (last 7 days) in the post-treatment cycle for 12 subjects (Group B).


RESULTS
All subjects completed six cycles of treatment. Nine of 13 subjects pretreatment and nine of 12 subjects at cycle 3 were characterized by the pathologist as having a secretory endometrium. Four of 13 subjects at cycle 6 and ten of 11 subjects post-treatment also demonstrated a secretory endometrium. Pre-decidual changes were seen in one, two, two and zero subjects at pretreatment, after three cycles, six cycles, and post-treatment, respectively. Six subjects had an atrophic endometrium at cycle 6.


CONCLUSIONS
With monophasic gestodene/ethinylestradiol 75 micrograms/20 micrograms, a secretory or inactive endometrium was present in most subjects. Thus, the effects on the endometrium of this oral contraceptive containing a reduced estrogen dose are consistent with those produced by other low-estrogen-dose combination oral contraceptives.
Academisch Ziekenhuis Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
C M
CM
Coenen
J M
JM
Hollanders
R
R
Rolland
D
D
Spielmann
J
J
Bulten
D000328:Adult; D001706:Biopsy; D003277:Contraceptives, Oral, Combined / Q000494:pharmacology*; D003280:Contraceptives, Oral, Synthetic / Q000494:pharmacology*; D016903:Drug Monitoring; D004717:Endometrium / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D045166:Estradiol Congeners / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004997:Ethinyl Estradiol / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D009652:Norpregnenes / Q000494:pharmacology*; D045167:Progesterone Congeners / Q000494:pharmacology*
D003277:Contraceptives, Oral, Combined; D003280:Contraceptives, Oral, Synthetic; D045166:Estradiol Congeners; D009652:Norpregnenes; D045167:Progesterone Congeners; C033273:Gestodene; D004997:Ethinyl Estradiol