Abstract
The results of two open Finnish multicenter studies on the effects of two oral contraceptive combinations containing 0.150 mg desogestrel+0.030 mg ethinylestradiol (EE) and 0.150 mg desogestrel+0.020 mg EE respectively were comparatively evaluated, paying particular attention to efficacy, cycle control and tolerance. The two trials were carried out by 20 independent investigators and comprised a total of 270 women, 91 of whom used the 0.150/0.030 mg desogestrel/EE combination for a total of 964 cycles in one trial and 179 the 0.150/0.020 mg desogestrel/EE combination for a total of 2096 cycles in the other trial. In addition the ovulation inhibiting effect of the combination with 0.020 mg EE (based on serum levels of LH, progesterone and 17β-estradiol) was studied in 5 healthy fertile women. No pregnancies occurred in this study. Both combinations showed a good cycle control and were well tolerated. There were no marked differences between the two preparations with respect to bleeding patterns, body weight, side effects, or drug related drop-outs. The good efficacy of the lowest estrogen-dose combination was substantiated by the results of the hormone determinations: all 5 volunteers displayed an anovulatory treatment cycle. It is concluded that despite its lower estrogen content, the clinical use of the 0.150/0.020 mg desogestrel/EE combination is as good as that of the 0.150/0.030 mg desogestrel/EE combination.