<p>Bleeding Pattern and Management of Unexpected Bleeding/Spotting with an Extended Regimen of a Combination of Ethinylestradiol 20 mcg and Drospirenone 3 mg</p>

Abstract

Objective: To compare the bleeding pattern in women using ethinylestradiol 20 mcg/ drospirenone 3 mg (EE 20 mcg/DRSP 3 mg) in a 24/4-day cyclic regimen with an extended regimen. Unexpected bleeding/spotting in the extended regimen group was managed by allowing a 4-day hormone-free interval (HFI). Methods: This was a randomized, prospective, open-label, multicenter study. Participants (N = 348) were randomized to receive EE 20 mcg/DRSP 3 mg in either an extended regimen (EE/DRSP es group) or a 24/4-day cyclic regimen (EE/DRSP 24/4 group) and followed for 168 days. In the EE/DRSP es group, a 4-day HFI was allowed whenever unexpected bleeding/ spotting persisted for ≥7 consecutive days. The participants assessed their bleeding daily as "no bleeding," "spotting," or "light," "moderate," or "heavy" bleeding according to a predefined scale. Results: EE/DRSP es group experienced fewer days of bleeding than those using a 24/4 cyclic regimen (P < 0.001). After 168 days, 57.5% of women in the EE/DRSP es group achieved complete amenorrhea (i.e., neither bleeding nor spotting) and 73.9% achieved "no bleeding" (i.e., no bleeding with or without spotting) during the final 28-day interval of the study period. Women in the extended group who instituted the 4-day HFI experienced a 94.1% rate of successful management of unexpected bleeding/spotting. Conclusion: The use of EE 20 mcg/DRSP 3 mg in an extended regimen resulted in high rates of amenorrhea and "no bleeding". Unexpected bleeding/spotting in the EE/DRSP es group could be managed effectively with a 4-day HFI.

Comparison of two drospirenone-containing oral contraceptives for their effect on the ovary, menstrual cycle, acne, and side-effect profile: 20 µg ethinylestradiol/3 mg drospirenone (24/4) versus 30 µg ethinylestradiol/3 mg drospirenone (21/7)

“…Another critical role of estrogen in COCs is providing cycle control and reducing spotting, which is a hormonal breakthrough bleeding. Studies show that spotting and intermittent bleeding are less with shorter HFI formulations when compared to the formulations with the same EE dose but a longer HFI [16]. In a meta-analysis of low-dose estrogencontaining tablets, there was less intermittent bleeding with tablets with a short hormone-free interval [17].…”