Our experiences with an oral hormonal contraceptive containing gestodene

An oral contraceptive containing gestodene (Minulet) was assessed in collaboration with Richter-Wyeth Pharmaceutical Company. 591 menstrual cycles of 100 healthy women aged 18-35 years were monitored during the period of August 1994 to March 1996 at the County Hospital Kecskemet Hungary. Every woman took Minulet (30 mcg ethinyl estradiol and 75 mcg gestodene) for 6 menstrual cycles which also constituted the duration of follow-up. The treatment cycles consisted of 21 days of taking the OC followed by 7 days of nonuse. 97 of the 100 patients enrolled completed the 6 months of investigation. 3 women discontinued because of headache (beginning at the end of the 3rd cycle). 10 women had used an IUD and 12 had used condoms for contraception. No pregnancy or severe side effects occurred. Vomiting occurred in 11 cycles and diarrhea in 18 cycles. Irregular bleeding occurred in 17.5% of the women at the beginning of the treatment; however it gradually diminished and ceased by the 5th cycle. Both the length and the quantity of withdrawal bleeding decreased by the end of the 6th cycle from an average of 5.0 days to 4.1 days. During the observation period there was no amenorrhea and dysmenorrhea decreased from 47.5% to 22.5% by the 3rd cycle and to 5% by the 6th cycle. These data confirm that OCs containing gestodene meet the requirements of modern medicine and in addition to the low hormonal content they are reliable and effective with excellent cycle control good tolerability and limited side effects.