title: Cycle control and bleeding pattern of a 24/4 regimen of drospirenone 3 mg/ethinylestradiol 20 μg compared with a 21/7 regimen of desogestrel 150 μg/ethinylestradiol 20 μg: a pooled analysis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The degree of cycle control achieved with a hormonal contraceptive method is an important determinant of its acceptance and continuation. This study set out to compare the cycle control and bleeding profile of drospirenone (DRSP) 3 mg/ethinylestradiol (EE) 20 μg in a 24-active pill/4-inert pill (24/4) regimen (YAZ®) with those of desogestrel (DSG) 150 μg/EE 20 μg in a 21/7 regimen (Mercilon®), an established European combined oral contraceptive (COC).
  
  
  METHODS
  Bleeding data from women aged 17-36 years who received either DRSP 3 mg/EE 20 μg in a 24/4 regimen (n = 1285) or DSG 150 μg/EE 20 μg in a 21/7 regimen (n = 471) during four clinical studies were pooled and analysed over seven treatment cycles.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The maximum intensity of scheduled withdrawal bleeding was 'normal bleeding' for >50% of subjects in cycles 1-6 in both treatment groups. Moreover, the incidence of unscheduled intracyclic bleeding during cycles 2-7 was comparable between treatment types (10.2-14.9% in women treated with DRSP 3 mg/EE 20 μg 24/4 vs 8.6-13.8% in women treated with DSG 150 μg/EE 20 μg 21/7). Overall, similar bleeding patterns were observed with both treatments.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  DRSP 3 mg/EE 20 μg 24/4 is associated with a bleeding profile and cycle control that is comparable to that of an established, low-dose COC formulation.
authors: The Family Federation of Finland, Turku Clinic, Turku, Finland. marja-leena.anttila@vaestoliitto.fi.
authors: Leena
authors: L
authors: Anttila
authors: Department of Gynaecology and Obstetrics, District Hospital of Dornbirn, Dornbirn, Austria.
authors: Walter
authors: W
authors: Neunteufel
authors: Department of Pediatrics, Obstetrics and Reproductive Medicine, Division of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Siena, Siena, Italy.
authors: Felice
authors: F
authors: Petraglia
authors: Global Clinical Development, Women's Healthcare, Bayer HealthCare Pharmaceuticals, Berlin, Germany.
authors: Joachim
authors: J
authors: Marr
authors: Global Clinical Development, Women's Healthcare, Bayer HealthCare Pharmaceuticals, Berlin, Germany.
authors: Michael
authors: M
authors: Kunz
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000736:Androstenes / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D003276:Contraceptives, Oral / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D003277:Contraceptives, Oral, Combined / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D017135:Desogestrel / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D004997:Ethinyl Estradiol / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008597:Menstrual Cycle / Q000187:drug effects*; D008598:Menstruation; D008796:Metrorrhagia; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000736:Androstenes; D003276:Contraceptives, Oral; D003277:Contraceptives, Oral, Combined; C534342:drospirenone and ethinyl estradiol combination; C442659:ethinyl estradiol-desogestrel combination; D004997:Ethinyl Estradiol; D017135:Desogestrel