Bleeding pattern with drospirenone 3 mg+ethinyl estradiol 20 mcg 24/4 combined oral contraceptive compared with desogestrel 150 mcg+ethinyl estradiol 20 mcg 21/7 combined oral contraceptive.
BACKGROUND
The study was conducted to compare cycle control, bleeding pattern and efficacy of two low-dose combined oral contraceptives.


METHODS
Four hundred fifty-three women were randomized to receive a 24/4 regimen of drospirenone 3 mg/ethinyl estradiol 20 mcg (drsp 3 mg/EE 20 mcg; n=230) or a 21/7 regimen of desogestrel 150 mcg/EE 20 mcg (DSG 150 mcg/EE 20 mcg; n=223), and recorded bleeding daily over 7 treatment cycles.


RESULTS
The duration [mean 4.7 (SD 1.5)-5.2 (SD 2.2) days in the drsp 3 mg/EE 20 mcg 24/4 group and 5.1 (SD 1.5)-5.4 (SD 2.1) days in the DSG 150 mcg/ EE 20 mcg group] and maximum intensity ("normal bleeding" for >50% of all subjects) of scheduled bleeding in Cycles 1-6 was comparable between treatment groups. The incidence of unscheduled bleeding during Cycles 2-6 was also similar between the two groups (drsp 3 mg/EE 20 mcg, 8.8-17.3%; DSG 150 mcg/ EE 20 mcg, 9.4-16.3%).


CONCLUSIONS
Drsp 3 mg/EE 20 mcg 24/4 achieved an acceptable bleeding profile with reliable cycle control, comparable with an established formulation.
Anttila
Leena
L
The Family Federation of Finland, Turku Clinic, Turku FIN-20100, Finland.
Kunz
Michael
M
Marr
Joachim
J
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000736:Androstenes / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology*; D003277:Contraceptives, Oral, Combined / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017135:Desogestrel / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004997:Ethinyl Estradiol / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008597:Menstrual Cycle / Q000187:drug effects*; D008599:Menstruation Disturbances / Q000139:chemically induced; D008796:Metrorrhagia / Q000139:chemically induced; D017060:Patient Satisfaction / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult
D000736:Androstenes; D003277:Contraceptives, Oral, Combined; C534342:drospirenone and ethinyl estradiol combination; C442659:ethinyl estradiol-desogestrel combination; D004997:Ethinyl Estradiol; D017135:Desogestrel