Obstetrics & Gynecology Track the topics, authors and articles important to you
HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS
QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced]


     

Obstetrics & Gynecology 2001;98:771-778
© 2001 by The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists
This Article
Right arrow Full Text
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Services
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via HighWire
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Miller, L.
Right arrow Articles by Notter, K. M.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Miller, L.
Right arrow Articles by Notter, K. M.

ORIGINAL RESEARCH

Menstrual Reduction With Extended Use of Combination Oral Contraceptive Pills: Randomized Controlled Trial

Leslie Miller, MD and Katherine M. Notter, MD

From the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, Washington.

Address reprint requests to: Leslie Miller, MD, 325 Ninth Ave, Seattle, WA 98104-2499; E-mail: lmiller{at}u.washington.edu.

OBJECTIVE: To compare a traditional 28-day cycle to an extended 49-day cycle of the 30 µg ethinyl estradiol (E2)/300 µg norgestrel monophasic birth control pill regimen.

METHODS: Ninety subjects randomized to either 28-day cycles with 21 active pills or 49-day cycles with 42 active pills for a prospective open label trial over four 84-day reference periods or trimesters. Bleeding, pill taking, and symptom diaries were completed. The sample size with 80% power to detect a 40% reduction in bleeding days required 24 subjects in each arm.

RESULTS: Of the 90 women, 24 subjects (54.5%) on the 28-day cycle and 29 (63%) on the 49-day cycle completed the entire study (P = .41). There were no statistically significant differences between the two groups in demographics or continuation rates. There was a significant reduction in bleeding days in the experimental arm beginning in the first trimester (28-day = 10.9, 49-day = 6.4 mean days of bleeding, P < .001) and continuing to the fourth trimester (28-day = 11.3, 49-day = 5.8 mean days, P = .005). The number of spotting days was similar between both schedules in the first trimester (28-day = 4.8, 49-day = 3.7 mean days, P = .24) and continued into the fourth trimester (28-day = 3.4, 49-day = 2.9 mean days, P = .30). Annual expenditure for hygiene products was significantly less for extended use subjects (28-day = $41.45, 49-day = $17.54 spent, P < .001).

CONCLUSION: Extension of the 28-day oral contraceptive (OC) cycle to a 49-day cycle resulted in fewer bleeding days and no increase in mean spotting days or bleeding episodes.




This article has been cited by other articles:


Home page
 J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab.Home page
R. S. Legro, J. G. Pauli, A. R. Kunselman, J. W. Meadows, J. S. Kesner, R. J. Zaino, L. M. Demers, C. L. Gnatuk, and W. C. Dodson
Effects of Continuous Versus Cyclical Oral Contraception: A Randomized Controlled Trial
J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., February 1, 2008; 93(2): 420 - 429.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Hum ReprodHome page
A. Edelman, M.F. Gallo, M.D. Nichols, J.T. Jensen, K.F. Schulz, and D.A. Grimes
Continuous versus cyclic use of combined oral contraceptives for contraception: systematic Cochrane review of randomized controlled trials.
Hum. Reprod., March 1, 2006; 21(3): 573 - 578.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Obstet GynecolHome page
A. B. Edelman, S. L. Koontz, M. D. Nichols, and J. T. Jensen
Continuous oral contraceptives: are bleeding patterns dependent on the hormones given?
Obstet. Gynecol., March 1, 2006; 107(3): 657 - 665.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Obstet GynecolHome page
L. Miller, C. H. J. Verhoeven, and J. i. Hout
Extended Regimens of the Contraceptive Vaginal Ring: A Randomized Trial
Obstet. Gynecol., September 1, 2005; 106(3): 473 - 482.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Obstet GynecolHome page
F. H. Stewart, A. M. Kaunitz, K. D. LaGuardia, D. L. Karvois, A. C. Fisher, A. J. Friedman, and for the ORTHO EVRA Extended Regimen Study Group
Extended Use of Transdermal Norelgestromin/Ethinyl Estradiol: A Randomized Trial
Obstet. Gynecol., June 1, 2005; 105(6): 1389 - 1396.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Obstet GynecolHome page
M. F. Gallo, D. A. Grimes, K. F. Schulz, and F. M. Helmerhorst
Combination Estrogen-Progestin Contraceptives and Body Weight: Systematic Review of Randomized Controlled Trials
Obstet. Gynecol., February 1, 2004; 103(2): 359 - 373.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Obstet GynecolHome page
J. B. Braunstein, J. Hausfeld, J. Hausfeld, and A. London
Economics of Reducing Menstruation With Trimonthly-Cycle Oral Contraceptive Therapy: Comparison With Standard-Cycle Regimens
Obstet. Gynecol., October 1, 2003; 102(4): 699 - 708.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Obstet GynecolHome page
L. Miller and J. P. Hughes
Continuous Combination Oral Contraceptive Pills to Eliminate Withdrawal Bleeding: A Randomized Trial
Obstet. Gynecol., April 1, 2003; 101(4): 653 - 661.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 JWatch GeneralHome page
Extended Oral Contraceptive Regimens Reduce Menstrual Bleeding
Journal Watch (General), November 27, 2001; 2001(1127): 4 - 4.
[Full Text]


HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS
Copyright © 2001 by the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.