title: Effect of a low-dose oral contraceptive containing 20 microg ethinylestradiol and 150 microg desogestrel on dysmenorrhea.
abstract: This observational study evaluated the effect of a low-dose oral contraceptive (OC), containing 20 mug ethinylestradiol and 150 mug desogestrel (20EE/150DSG) on dysmenorrhea. Of the 346 women enrolled, 301 (87%) completed the three-cycle study. All participants (mean age: 22.6 years) wished to use oral contraception and had dysmenorrhea for at least 3 months. Dysmenorrhea was assessed using both the adapted verbal multidimensional scoring system (VMSS-A) and a visual analogue scale (VAS) to rate pain intensity. General dysmenorrhea symptoms and the use of analgesics were also assessed. The mean total combined scores on the VMSS-A scale decreased from 5.4 to 1.4 (p < 0.001), during the three cycles of OC use. The mean VAS pain-intensity score decreased from 6.8 to 1.8 (p < 0.001). During treatment there were substantial improvements in most individual parameters of dysmenorrhea. The percentage of women with dysmenorrhea lasting > or =2 days decreased from 81% at baseline to 14% at cycle 3. The percentage of women reporting generalized dysmenorrhea symptoms (e.g., lumbago, asthenia) decreased from 79% to 21% and the percentage needing analgesics dropped from 100% to 41%. The percentage of women for whom dysmenorrhea interfered with daily activities decreased from 73% to 10%. The results indicate that 20EE/150DSG can statistically and clinically significantly reduce the incidence and severity of dysmenorrhea, and its impact on daily activities.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Hospital Sant Juan de Deu, P. Sant Joan de Déu 2, 08950, Barcelona, Spain. jcallejo@medicina.ub.es
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Callejo
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Díaz
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ruiz
authors.forename: R M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: García
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000700:Analgesics / Q000008:administration & dosage; D003276:Contraceptives, Oral / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D017135:Desogestrel / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D004412:Dysmenorrhea / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004997:Ethinyl Estradiol / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D010147:Pain Measurement; D011446:Prospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000700:Analgesics; D003276:Contraceptives, Oral; D004997:Ethinyl Estradiol; D017135:Desogestrel