EFFECTS OF AN ORAL-CONTRACEPTIVE COMBINATION CONTAINING 0.150 MG DESOGESTREL PLUS 0.020 MG ETHINYL ESTRADIOL ON HEALTHY PREMENOPAUSAL WOMEN

Twenty-six healthy premenopausal outpatients from the Menopause Clinic of the University of Bologna were treated with a combination pill con taining 0.020 mg of ethinyl estradiol and 0.150 mg of desogestrel for one year. Throughout the treatment period, clinical and laboratory mon itoring was periodically performed, and women were asked about the occ urrence of climacteric symptom,. This formulation relieved climacteric symptoms, and did not adversely affect lipids and clotting factors, e xcept for a slight increase in serum triglycerides. Laboratory data al so suggest a beneficial effect on bone metabolism.