Abstract

We compared the efficacy of 4 mg drospirenone (DRSP) progestin-only pills (POPs) versus combined oral contraceptive pills (COCs) containing 0.02 mg of ethinyl estradiol (EE) and 0.075 mg of gestodene (GS) in ovulation inhibition and inducing unfavorable cervical mucus changes using a delayed-starting approach. This randomized controlled trial involved 36 participants aged 18–45 years. The major outcomes included ovulation inhibition assessed using the Hoogland and Skouby score, and cervical mucus permeability, assessed using the modified World Health Organization score. The results demonstrated ovulation inhibition rates of 77.8% for the EE/GS group and 88.9% for the DRSP group. The risk ratio and absolute risk reduction were 0.50 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.10, 2.40) and − 0.11 (95% CI: − 0.35, 0.13), respectively, satisfying the 20% non-inferiority margin threshold. The median time to achieve unfavorable cervical mucus changes was comparable between the DRSP (3 days, interquartile range [IQR]: 6 days) and EE/GS (3.5 days, IQR: 4 days) groups. However, the DRSP group had a higher incidence of unscheduled vaginal bleeding (55.56% vs. 11.11%; p = 0.005). DRSP-only pills, initiated on days 7–9 of the menstrual cycle, were non-inferior to EE/GS pills in ovulation inhibition. However, they exhibited delayed unfavorable cervical mucus changes compared to the standard two-day backup recommendation.

Clinical trial registration: Thai Clinical Trials Registry (TCTR20220819001) https://www.thaiclinicaltrials.org/show/TCTR20220819001.

Details

Title
A randomized single-blind non-inferiority trial of delayed start with drospirenone-only and ethinyl estradiol-gestodene pills for ovulation inhibition
Author
Ratanasaengsuang, Atist 1 ; Uaamnuichai, Sutira 2 ; Santibenchakul, Somsook 2 ; Wongwathanavikrom, Rachanee 1 ; Chaikittisilpa, Sukanya 3 ; Pohthipornthawat, Natkrita 2 ; Taweepolcharoen, Charoen 1 ; Jaisamrarn, Unnop 1 ; Phutrakool, Phanupong 4 

 Chulalongkorn University, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine, Bangkok, Thailand (GRID:grid.7922.e) (ISNI:0000 0001 0244 7875) 
 Chulalongkorn University, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine, Bangkok, Thailand (GRID:grid.7922.e) (ISNI:0000 0001 0244 7875); King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Bangkok, Thailand (GRID:grid.411628.8) (ISNI:0000 0000 9758 8584) 
 Chulalongkorn University, Center of Excellence in Menopause and Aging Women Health, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine, Bangkok, Thailand (GRID:grid.7922.e) (ISNI:0000 0001 0244 7875) 
 Chulalongkorn University, Chula Data Management Center, Faculty of Medicine, Bangkok, Thailand (GRID:grid.7922.e) (ISNI:0000 0001 0244 7875); Chulalongkorn University, Center of Excellence in Preventive & Integrative Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Bangkok, Thailand (GRID:grid.7922.e) (ISNI:0000 0001 0244 7875) 
Pages
14151
Publication year
2024
Publication date
2024
Publisher
Nature Publishing Group
e-ISSN
20452322
Source type
Scholarly Journal
Language of publication
English
ProQuest document ID
3069699996
Copyright
© The Author(s) 2024. This work is published under http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ (the “License”). Notwithstanding the ProQuest Terms and Conditions, you may use this content in accordance with the terms of the License.