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Added Benefits and User Satisfaction with a Low-Dose Oral Contraceptive Containing Drospirenone

Results of Three Multicentre Trials

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Abstract

The ethinylestradiol 20 μg/drospirenone 3 mg combined oral contraceptive (COC), administered in cycles of 21 days continuous use followed by a 7-day hormone-free interval (21/7) [Yasminelle®], has been proven to be an effective and well tolerated contraceptive with an acceptable bleeding pattern and good safety profile. In addition, the ethinylestradiol 20 μg/drospirenone 3 mg 21/7 COC prevents water-retention-related weight gain, and improves physical and emotional well-being, consistent with other drospirenone-containing COCs. In clinical studies, >85% of those who received the ethinylestradiol 20 μg/drospirenone 3 mg 21/7 COC were satisfied or very satisfied with this contraceptive. The positive attributes of the ethinylestradiol 20 μg/drospirenone 3 mg 21/7 COC beyond contraceptive protection may have important implications for improving treatment compliance and reducing treatment discontinuation. Physical well-being stayed the same or improved during use of this COC in 56% and 34% of women, respectively. Emotional well-being stayed the same or improved in 71% and 20% of women, respectively.

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Acknowledgements

No honorarium was received by the authors for the preparation of this article. Editorial assistance for the development of this manuscript was provided by Richard Glover, Wolters Kluwer Health Medical Communications, with the financial support of Bayer Schering Pharma AG. Johannes Bitzer has acted as a consultant to or received honoraria from Bayer Schering Pharma, Schering Plough, Grünenthal, Procter & Gamble, and Lilly; and has received grants from Grünenthal, Bayer Schering Pharma, Organon, Lilly, Schering Plough, Pfizer, Solvay and Novo Nordisk. Anna Paoletti has no conflicts of interest that are directly relevant to the content of this article.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University Hospital Basel, 4031, Basel, Switzerland

    Johannes Bitzer

  2. Dipartimento Chirurgico Materno Infantile e di Scienze delle Immagini, Sezione di Clinica Ginecologica Ostetrica e di Fisiopatologia della Riproduzione Umana, Università di Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy

    Anna M. Paoletti

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Correspondence to Johannes Bitzer.

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Bitzer, J., Paoletti, A.M. Added Benefits and User Satisfaction with a Low-Dose Oral Contraceptive Containing Drospirenone. Clin. Drug Investig. 29, 73–78 (2009). https://doi.org/10.2165/0044011-200929020-00001

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