Pituitary, ovarian and additional contraceptive effects of an estradiol-based combined oral contraceptive: results of a randomized, open-label study

BackgroundThe estrogen step-down/progestogen step-up 28-day estradiol valerate/dienogest (E2V/DNG) oral contraceptive effectively inhibits ovulation; however, limited data are available regarding its effects on estradiol (E2), progesterone, luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) or its additional extraovarian contraceptive effects.Study DesignIn this secondary analysis, 100 women received E2V 3 mg on days 1–2, E2V 2 mg/DNG 2 mg on days 3–7, E2V 2 mg/DNG 3 mg on days 8–24, E2V 1 mg on days 25–26 and placebo on days 27–28 for one treatment cycle. Measures included the presence/absence of cervical mucus; endometrial thickness; and serum E2, progesterone, and gonadotropin levels.ResultsE2, progesterone, LH and FSH levels did not exhibit the typical ovulatory increase and remained relatively stable during the cycle. E2V/DNG reduced mean maximal endometrial thickness and proportion of women with visible cervical mucus. All parameters returned to pretreatment levels during the posttreatment cycle.ConclusionE2V/DNG provides extraovarian contraceptive effects (reducing endometrial thickness and cervical mucus production) in addition to inhibiting ovulation, assuring contraceptive efficacy.