Drospirenone: a Latin American perspective for oestrogen-free oral contraception

Abstract

Aim

Combined hormonal contraceptives, despite their high efficacy, are associated with an increased relative risk of cardiovascular events. The contraceptive mechanism of action of combined pills depends fundamentally on their progestin component.

Methods

A narrative review was performed.

Results

The drospirenone-only pill, including this synthetic progestogen with antimineralocorticoid and antiandrogenic activity, has high contraceptive efficacy that has been demonstrated with a 24-day schedule of 4-day administration of hormone-free pills. Due to its safety profile, the drospirenone-only pill is suitable even in high-risk populations, such as women with high blood pressure, thromboembolism, smoking or dyslipidemia.

Conclusion

Considering the increasing prevalence of these comorbidities in Latin America, the 4 mg drospirenone-only pill is suggested as one of the strategies of choice in the region for those women who choose oral contraceptives.

摘要

目的:联合激素避孕药尽管功效很好, 但与心血管事件的相对风险增加有关。复合药片的避孕作用机制基本上取决于它们的孕激素成分。

方法:叙述性回顾。

结果:仅含屈螺酮的避孕药, 包括具有抗糖皮质激素和抗雄激素活性的合成孕激素, 具有很高的避孕效果, 已通过服用24天有活性药片和4天无活性药片得到证明。由于其安全性, 屈螺酮专用药丸甚至适用于高危人群, 如患有高血压、血栓栓塞、吸烟或血脂异常的妇女。

结论:考虑到这些疾病在拉丁美洲越来越普遍, 建议将4 mg屈螺酮片作为该地区选择口服避孕药的妇女的选择策略之一。

Keywords:

• Drospirenone
• contraception
• progestin
• Latin America

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).