Details

Autor(en) / Beteiligte

• Göretzlehner, Gunther
• Waldmann-Rex, Susanne
• Schramm, Georg A.K.

Titel

Extended Cycles with the Combined Oral Contraceptive Chlormadinone Acetate 2 mg/Ethinylestradiol 0.03 mg: Pooled Analysis of Data from Three Large-Scale, Non-Interventional, Observational Studies

Ist Teil von

• Clinical drug investigation, 2011-01, Vol.31 (4), p.269-277

Ort / Verlag

Cham: Springer International Publishing

Erscheinungsjahr

2011

Link zum Volltext

Quelle

Alma/SFX Local Collection

Beschreibungen/Notizen

• Background and Objective: The prescribing of extended regimens of oral contraceptives (OCs) is increasing in routine gynaecological practice as a means of reducing the number of annual menstrual bleeds. Typically, this involves taking one pill per day for, say, 84 days continuously (4 × 21 days), followed by a 7-day pill-free interval. Low-dose OCs are suitable for extended use, and many gynaecologists in Germany prescribe the combination of chlormadinone acetate 2 mg/ethinylestradiol 0.03 mg (CMA 2 mg/EE 0.03 mg). The aim of the current study was to assess the risks and benefits of CMA 2 mg/EE 0.03 mg in extended regimens, using pooled data from observational studies. Methods: This pooled analysis of three large-scale, non-interventional, observational studies assessed the results in women receiving Belara® (CMA 2 mg/EE 0.03 mg) according to an extended regimen compared with conventional regimens documented in the summary of product characteristics. Results: A total of 625 women were identified as extended-regimen users (mean ± SD age 24.9 ± 9.0 years). Extended-cycle use was associated with decreases in skin problems, dysmenorrhoea symptoms (as shown by reductions in analgesic use; absence from school, university, or work; and restrictions in leisure and sporting activities), cycle-dependent symptoms (e.g. headache/migraine, breast tenderness), withdrawal bleeding, bleeding duration and reduced libido. Mean bodyweight remained almost constant over 6 months. Only nine adverse drug reactions, none severe, were reported in eight women (1.3%). Conclusion: This pooled analysis confirms that extended regimens of CMA 2 mg/EE 0.03 mg reduce cycle-related complaints and are very well tolerated.