A study of cycle control, side effects and client's satisfaction of a low dose combined contraceptive containing ethinylestradiol/drospirenone (24/4 regimen)

Abstract

Objective: To study cycle control, side effects, and satisfaction of low dose 24-day combined contraceptive containing 20 microg of Ethinylestradiol and 3 mg of Drospirenone.

Material and method: This was an open label, non-comparative study. The healthy females from the family planning clinic at King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital were assigned to receive six cycles of combined oral contraceptive containing 20 microg of ethinylestradiol and 3 mg of drospirenone administered daily for 24 days followed by 4-day hormone-free interval. Data were collected on cycle control, side effects, and satisfaction. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics for descriptive data and Paired t test for comparison.

Results: One hundred fifty four women were assigned the study medication, including one (0.64%) who did not start medication. In the second reference period, the occurrence of frequent and infrequent bleeding was low (2.1% and 4.9%). Only one woman (0.65%) discontinued medication because of irregular bleeding. There was no pregnancy reported during the present study. Overall, the study medication was well tolerated and five subjects (3.24%) discontinued study because of side effects. No serious side effects related to the study medication were reported. The majority of women (84.2%) were satisfied and very satisfied with the treatment and most (73.3%) would continue the medication if it were available.

Conclusion: The low dose combined contraceptive containing Ethinylestradiol/Drospirenone (24/4 regimen) has acceptable cycle control and good tolerability.