Use of ethinylestradiol/drospirenone combination in patients with the polycystic ovary syndrome
April 2008
in “Therapeutics and clinical risk management”
TLDR The birth control combination of ethinylestradiol and drospirenone helps treat symptoms of polycystic ovary syndrome.
The document discusses the use of combined oral contraceptive (COC) therapy, specifically the ethinylestradiol/drospirenone combination, in treating women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), which affects approximately 105 million women globally. COC therapy is highlighted as a key treatment for PCOS symptoms such as excessive hair growth, irregular menstruation, acne, and weight gain. The paper emphasizes the importance of selecting an appropriate progestin to maximize antiandrogenic effects, noting that drospirenone, a newer progestin, has been beneficial for women with PCOS when combined with ethinyl estradiol. Additionally, the document mentions that there is controversy surrounding the metabolic effects of COCs in PCOS patients.
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