High progestational activity

The active metabolite of desogestrel—etonogestrel—has a very high binding affinity to progesterone receptors.1,2

Stimulation of progesterone receptors in the uterus maintains the endometrium.

Clinical benefits

  • Excellent cycle control3
  • Low incidence of breakthrough bleeding (BTB) and spotting3
  • Patient acceptability and satisfaction4

Minimal androgenicity*

Etonogestrel has low binding affinity for androgenic receptors.1,2

Desogestrel, in combination with ethinyl estradiol, does not counteract the estrogen-induced increase in SHBG (sex hormone-binding globulin). This has the effect of lowering the levels of free testosterone.1

Clinical benefits

  • Low incidence of androgenic effects such as weight gain and hirsutism2
  • Patient acceptability

High progestational to androgenicity ratio

The selectivity for progestational over androgenic binding, compared with norethindrone, is 8 times greater for etonogestrel and 1.8 times greater for levonorgestrel.2

Clinical benefits

  • Excellent cycle control with low incidence of nuisance side effects of weight gain or hirsutism4
  • Appropriate for many patient types4

Endometrial stability
(minimal spotting and bleeding)

Minimal BTB and spotting have occurred in patients using desogestrel-containing OCs (ie, Mircette® [desogestrel/ethinyl estradiol and ethinyl estradiol] Tablets.3

In Mircette® users, over 90% of cycles (N=13,760) were free from either BTB (3.5%) or spotting (8.9%).3

Clinical benefits

  • May enhance patient compliance6
  • Suitable for new starts, restarts, and switchers, and those having problems with BTB4

Desogestrel, a progestin first introduced in Europe, has been used in over 1 billion cycles worldwide.

Oral contraceptives containing desogestrel offer:

  • High progestational activity
  • Low androgenicity*
  • Endometrial stability
    (minimal BTB and spotting)

These features contribute to acceptability and satisfaction for patients who use oral contraceptives (OCs) formulated with this progestin.

References:
1. Mircette® full prescribing information. 2. Dickey RP. Managing Contraceptive Pill Patients. 9th ed. Durant, Okla: EMIS, Inc; 1998. 3. The Mircette® Study Group. An open-label, multicenter, noncomparative safety and efficacy study of Mircette®, a low-dose estrogen-progestin oral contraceptive. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 1998;179:S2-S8. 4. NDA No. 20-713. 5. Desogen® full prescribing information. 6. Rosenberg MJ, Meyers A, Roy V. Efficacy, cycle control, and side effects of low- and lower-dose oral contraceptives: a randomized trial of 20 and 35 µg estrogen preparations. Contraception. 1999; Dec.

* The relevance of this finding in humans is unknown.

OCs do not protect against HIV (AIDS) infection and other sexually transmitted diseases. The use of OCs is associated with increased risks of several serious side effects, including thromboembolic diseases. Some studies suggest that this risk is slightly increased by OCs containing desogestrel; additional studies do not support this finding. Cigarette smoking increases the risk of serious cardiovascular side effects; women who take OCs are strongly advised not to smoke.

Please see MIrcette detailed patient package insert and full prescribing information.
Please see Desogen detailed patient package insert and full prescribing information.

Organon
 Organon USA Inc.
Roseland, NJ 07052

contraception therapy options  ||  mircette detailed patient package insert   ||   mircette prescribing information
desogen detailed patient package insert  ||  desogen prescribing information

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© 2008 ORGANON INC., OR5C-597 . FEBRUARY 2008