A prospective randomized trial comparing low-dose ethinyl estradiol and drospirenone 24/4 combined oral contraceptive vs. ethinyl estradiol and drospirenone 21/7 combined oral contraceptive in the treatment of hirsutism.
BACKGROUND
A prospective randomized trial was conducted to compare the clinical efficacy of two oral contraceptives containing drospirenone in the treatment of hirsutism in women.


METHODS
Fifty women with moderate to severe hirsutism were recruited. Three women were lost to follow-up. Twenty-four patients received oral 0.03 mg ethinyl estradiol and 3 mg drospirenone 21/7 regimen (Group 1) for 6 months. Another group of 23 patients received oral 0.02 mg ethinyl estradiol and 3 mg drospirenone 24/4 regimen (Group 2) for 6 months. Hirsutism was assessed after 6 months using the Ferriman-Gallwey (F-G) scoring system. Hormonal levels after 6 months of both therapies were compared with baseline values and each other.


RESULTS
An improvement in the F-G scores for hirsutism (mean±SD) was observed in Group 1 (17.3±5.2 to 8.7±2.5, p<.001) and in Group 2 (17.5±4.8 to 7.9±2.8, p<.001). Pre- and post-treatment hirsutism scores were comparable between the groups (p>.05). Total and free testosterone levels decreased significantly after the therapy in both groups. The sex hormone-binding globulin levels increased significantly in both groups during the 6-month period.


CONCLUSIONS
The treatment of hirsutism with both combined oral contraceptives (COCs) containing drospirenone offered comparable effects and was well tolerated.
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Erciyes University, Kayseri, Turkey. onerg@yahoo.com
Gokalp
G
Oner
Iptisam Ipek
II
Muderris
D000328:Adult; D000736:Androstenes / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D003277:Contraceptives, Oral, Combined / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D004997:Ethinyl Estradiol / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005260:Female; D006628:Hirsutism / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D000451:Mineralocorticoid Receptor Antagonists / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D045167:Progesterone Congeners / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000736:Androstenes; D003277:Contraceptives, Oral, Combined; D000451:Mineralocorticoid Receptor Antagonists; D045167:Progesterone Congeners; D004997:Ethinyl Estradiol; C035144:drospirenone