Contraception (Birth Control) and Family Planning PubHealthInfo

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PubHealth.info® (a subsidiary of PakMed) presents scientific information mainly based on abstracts of articles published on a variety of public health issues/topics, particularly encompassing population planning, disease prevention, maternal and child health, and communicable and non-communicable diseases (like HIV AIDS, malaria, etc) that are affecting a significant portion of population in developing and developed countries. Here you can find abstracts of articles published on a variety of public health topics under category "Contraception (Birth Control) and Family Planning". Contraception (birth control) is a regimen of one or more actions, devices, or medications followed in order to deliberately prevent or reduce the likelihood of a woman becoming pregnant or giving birth. Therefore contraception is the utilization of various and sundry surgical procedures, devices, practices, agents, or drugs with the intention of preventing conception or impregnation (pregnancy). Methods and intentions typically termed birth control may be considered a pivotal ingredient to family planning. Birth control is a controversial political and ethical issue in many cultures and religions, and although it is generally less controversial than abortion specifically.

YEAR: 1994

CATEGORY: Contraception (Birth Control) and Family Planning

TITLE

Clinical comparison of two low-dose oral contraceptives, Minulet and

Mercilon, in women over 30 years of age.

AUTHORS

Kirkman RJ; Pedersen JH; Fioretti P; Roberts HE

SOURCE

CONTRACEPTION. 1994 Jan;49(1):33-46.

ABSTRACT

At 66 sites in Denmark, Italy, New Zealand, and the UK, clinicians randomly allocated 1006 women >30 years old,

some of whom were in their early 50s, into 1 of 2 groups receiving a low-dose oral contraceptive (OC): Minulet

containing 75 mcg gestodene (GES)/30 mcg ethinyl estradiol (EE) and Mercilon containing 150 mcg desogestrel

(DES)/20 mcg EE. The study aimed to compare these 2 low-dose OCs to help physicians prescribe an OC that could

be continued into later years. Before treatment, the 2 groups had similar demographic and gynecologic

characteristics. The mean menstrual flow length in the GES/EE group was longer than that of the DES/EE group (4.7

days vs. 4.5 days; p = .035) though. None of the women during 2800 cycles of GES/EE use and 2796 cycles of

DES/EE use conceived, even though women forgot to take at least 1 pill in 11% of cycles. The GES/EE OC had

significantly better cycle control than did the DES/EE OC. For example, the GES/EE group was more likely to have

normal cycles than the DES/EE group (84-93% vs. 73-83%; p < .001). The DES/EE group experienced a significantly

lower withdrawal bleeding mean intensity than the GES/EE group in all 6 cycles, but the bleeding for both groups

was close to light bleeding. The 2 groups were similar in weight, blood pressure, Papanicolaou smears, and

laboratory data. Discontinuation rates for the GES/EE and DES/EE groups were 13.5% and 12.8%, respectively.

Adverse reactions accounted for discontinuation in 7% of the GES/EE group and 8% of the DES/EE group. The

major complaints leading to discontinuation were headache, nausea, and breakthrough bleeding. Both GES/EE and

DES/EE had very good cycle control and efficacy and a very low rate of side effects. These results suggest that both

these low-dose OCs would be acceptable for healthy nonsmoking women needing contraception up to menopause.

(PubHealth.info Document ID: CONT2T 3570-06)

PubHealth.info NOTE: The author(s) of this article titled, "Clinical comparison of two low-dose oral contraceptives,

Minulet and Mercilon, in women over 30 years of age.", is(are) Kirkman RJ; Pedersen JH; Fioretti P; Roberts HE.

The source of this article is "CONTRACEPTION. 1994 Jan;49(1):33-46.". This article was published in 1994 in

English language(s). (PubHealth.info® Document ID: CONT2T 3570-06. All rights reserved with PubHealth.info) PIN:

8570

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