Using a low-dose contraceptive in women 35 years of age and over:: 20 μg estradiol/100 μg levonorgestrel

The efficacy, safety, and cycle control of a low-dose oral contraceptive (OC) containing 20 mug ethinyl estradiol (EE) and 100 mug levonorgestrel (LNG) has been demonstrated in a large trial with 1708 women (greater than or equal to 15 years old with regular menstrual cycles). The objective of this study was to analyze the same parameters in 218 of the 1708 women who were 35 years of age and older. Women were administered the 28-day, combination OC (20 mug EE/100 mug LNG 21 days active medication/7 days placebo) for up to 3 years. During 3859 cycles evaluated for efficacy, one pregnancy occurred (Pearl index 0.34). The most common adverse events cited as reasons for discontinuation were hypertension (3% of subjects), headache (2%), and metrorrhagia (2%). One subject withdrew as a result of a serious adverse event. Breakthrough bleeding, spotting, and bleeding and spotting occurred in 2.9%, 11.0%. and 6.8%, respectively, of the 3739 cycles evaluated for cycle control. This low-dose, monophasic regimen of 20 mug EE/100 mug LNG is an effective, safe, and tolerable contraceptive and provides good cycle control for women 35 years of age and older. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science Inc. All rights reserved.