CLIMACTERIC SYMPTOMS AND CONTROL OF THE CYCLE IN WOMEN AGED 35 YEARS OR OLDER TAKING AN ORAL-CONTRACEPTIVE WITH 0.150-MG DESOGESTREL AND 0.020-MG ETHINYLESTRADIOL

In a multicenter prospective trial, 58 healthy women aged between 35 a nd 49 years were studied for one year (639 cycles) while taking an ora l contraceptive (OC) containing desogestrel 0.150 mg and ethinylestrad iol (EE) 0.020 mg. Efficacy control of the cycle, side effects, compla ints, and climacteric symptoms were monitored after 3, 6, 9 and 12 cyc les. No pregnancies occurred during the study period. Spotting gradual ly decreased from 29.3% in cycle 1 to 4.2% in cycle 12, while breakthr ough bleeding (BTB) disappeared after cycle 7. One case of superficial thrombophlebitis and 3 cases of minor side effects were registered. W ith regard to the complaints, breast tenderness, headache, and depress ion gradually decreased during the study (basal vs. 12-month data: 50. 9% vs. 31.2%, 48.3% vs. 18.7%, 39.6% vs. 20.8%, respectively), while n ausea disappeared after three months. A significant treatment-dependen t reduction of climacteric symptoms was obtained after cycle 3 and thi s tendency was maintained up to cycle 12. No changes were registered i n body mass index (BMI) or blood pressure.