The drospirenone (DRSP)-only pill: clinical implications in the daily use.

Objectives: Progestins used in contraception are either components of combined hormonal contraceptives or are used as a single active ingredient. Progestins are highly effective in long-term contraception and have a very good safety profile with very few contraindications.

Methods: An oestrogen-free ovulation inhibitor POP has been authorised in the USA and the EU.

Oral Progestins in Hormonal Contraception: Importance and Future Perspectives of a New Progestin Only-Pill Containing 4 mg Drospirenone.

Hormonal contraceptives are an effective and safe method for preventing pregnancy. Progestins used in contraception are either components of combined hormonal contraceptives (tablets, patches or vaginal rings) or are used as a single active ingredient in progestin mono-preparations (the progestin-only pill (POP), implants, intrauterine systems or depot preparations). Progestins are highly effective in long-term contraception when used properly, and have a very good safety profile with very few contraindications.

[MHT: How and how long in healthy women above 65?].

MHT: How and how long in healthy women above 65? In Europe, women spend more than one third of their lifetime in the postmenopause which is characterized by chronic estrogen deficiency. About 80 % of them suffer from vasomotor symptoms which can last for up to twelve years or more. Menopausal hormone therapy (MHT) with sexual steroids is the most effective treatment resulting in a reduction of hot flushes and an improvement of quality of life.

Correction: Oral Progestins in Hormonal Contraception: Importance and Future Perspectives of a New Progestin Only-Pill Containing 4 mg Drospirenone.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1055/a-1471-4408.][This corrects the article DOI: 10.

Effectiveness and safety of follitropin alfa (Ovaleap®) for ovarian stimulation using a GnRH antagonist protocol in real-world clinical practice: a multicenter, prospective, open, non-interventional assisted reproductive technology study.

Background: The use of recombinant human follicle-stimulating hormone (r-hFSH) in ovarian stimulation protocols for infertility treatment in assisted reproductive technology (ART) clinical practice is well established. More recent advancements include the availability of biosimilar r-hFSH products, which expand the choices available to healthcare practitioners and patients. Better understanding of how such a product contributes to routine clinical practice is valuable to help prescribers make informed treatment choices.

Extended-cycle versus conventional treatment with a combined oral contraceptive containing ethinylestradiol (30 μg) and levonorgestrel (150 μg) in a randomized controlled trial.

The objective was to assess efficacy and safety of a combined oral contraceptive containing ethinylestradiol (EE) and levonorgestrel (LNG) in an extended-cycle vs. a conventional-cycle regimen. This first European randomized, active controlled, open, prospective, parallel-group trial was conducted in 48 German gynecological centers.

Estradiol regulates human QT-interval: acceleration of cardiac repolarization by enhanced KCNH2 membrane trafficking.

Background: Modulation of cardiac repolarization by sexual hormones is controversial and hormonal effects on ion channels remain largely unknown. In the present translational study, we therefore assessed the relationship between QTc duration and gonadal hormones and studied underlying mechanisms.

Methods And Results: We measured hormone levels and QTc intervals in women during clomiphene stimulation for infertility and women before, during, and after pregnancy.

Adherence with ethinylestradiol 20 μg/drospirenone 3 mg in a flexible extended regimen supported by the use of a digital tablet dispenser with or without acoustic alarm: an open-label, randomized, multicenter study.

Objective: To evaluate the effect of a digital dispenser's acoustic alarm function on adherence to ethinylestradiol (EE) 20 μg/drospirenone 3 mg in a flexible extended regimen (EE/drospirenoneFlex) among women in five European countries (France, Germany, Italy, Spain, UK) seeking oral contraception.

Study Design: Randomized, parallel-group open-label study.

Methods: Women aged 18-35 years received EE/drospirenoneFlex administered in a regimen with cycle lengths of their choice with the aid of a digital pill dispenser over 1 year.

Effect of a low-dose contraceptive patch on efficacy, bleeding pattern, and safety: a 1-year, multicenter, open-label, uncontrolled study.

This Phase III, uncontrolled, open-label, multicenter study was conducted to investigate the contraceptive efficacy, bleeding pattern, and cycle control of a novel once-a-week contraceptive patch, delivering low-dose ethinyl estradiol (EE) and gestodene (GSD) at the same systemic exposure seen after oral administration of a combined oral contraceptive containing 0.02 mg EE/0.06 mg GSD.

Hormonal contraception--what kind, when, and for whom?

Background: In Germany today, one-third of the 20 million women of child-bearing age use combined oral contraceptives (COCs). In this article, we summarize the current knowledge of the mode of action, wanted and unwanted side effects, and long-term risks of COCs. The levonorgestrel intrauterine device (IUD) and long-acting injectable or implantable monophasic progestogen preparations offer comparable contraceptive efficacy to COCs.

Effect of extended-cycle regimen with an oral contraceptive containing 30 mcg ethinylestradiol and 2 mg dienogest on bleeding patterns, safety, acceptance and contraceptive efficacy.

Background: The present study compared the efficacy and safety of a combined oral contraceptive containing 30 mcg ethinylestradiol and 2 mg dienogest (EE/DNG) in conventional and extended-cycle regimen over 1 year of treatment.

Study Design: In a phase III, randomized, prospective, open, two-arm, multicenter study, 1315 sexually active women (range, 18-40 years) were treated with EE/DNG either conventionally (21/7 days) or according to an extended-cycle regimen (84/7 days). Data were documented on volunteer diaries, and adverse events (AEs) were reported during five visits.

Disseminated tumor cells in the bone marrow of patients with ductal carcinoma in situ.

Detection of disseminated tumor cells (DTCs) in bone marrow is an independent prognostic factor in primary breast cancer. Here, we conducted a proof-of-principle study to evaluate whether this tumor cell spread occurs already in patients with ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS). After preoperative screening by stereotactic core biopsy, 30 consecutive women with DCIS were included.

SATB1 gene expression and breast cancer prognosis.

Recently it has been shown that the genome organizer SATB1 plays an important role in breast cancer progression and predicts a poor prognosis. However its prognostic value compared to markers as the estrogen receptor is currently unclear. The expression levels of SATB1 mRNA from Affymetrix microarray in a cohort of 2058 breast cancer samples and its prognostic impact were analyzed.

Prescribing preferences and personal experience of female gynaecologists in Germany and Austria regarding use of extended-cycle oral contraceptives.

Objectives: To investigate prescribing preferences and personal experience of female gynaecologists with extended-cycle use of combined oral contraceptives (COCs) in Germany and Austria.

Methods: A questionnaire on prescribing patterns and personal experience with extended COC regimens was delivered to female gynaecologists practising in Germany and Austria.

Results: Of 2,500 delivered questionnaires, 1,113 were returned.

Pregnancy after the calcium ionophore correction of pronuclei position in oocytes after intracytoplasmic sperm injection.

Objective: To report a successful pregnancy after transfer of embryos derived from oocytes after calcium ionophore correction of the pronuclei localization after intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI).

Design: Case report.

Setting: University hospital.

Effects of an oral contraceptive containing 30 mcg ethinyl estradiol and 2 mg dienogest on lipid metabolism during 1 year of conventional or extended-cycle use.

Background: The effects of extended regimens of combined oral contraceptives (COC) on lipid parameters are largely unknown. The present study compared the effects of a COC containing 30 mcg ethinyl estradiol and 2 mg dienogest (EE/DNG) in conventional and extended-cycle regimen over 1 year.

Study Design: Lipid parameters were measured in 59 women treated with EE/DNG either conventionally (21+7 days) or in extended-cycle regimen (84+7 days).

Effects of conventional or extended-cycle regimen of an oral contraceptive containing 30 mcg ethinylestradiol and 2 mg dienogest on various hemostasis parameters.

Background: The study was conducted to investigate the effect of a combined oral contraceptive (COC) containing 30 mcg ethinylestradiol and 2 mg dienogest with two different regimens on various hemostasis variables.

Study Design: Hemostatic parameters were measured in 59 women treated with a monophasic COC containing 30 mcg ethinylestradiol and 2 mg dienogest (EE/DNG) either conventionally (13 cycles with 21 days of treatment+7 days without hormones) or with an extended-cycle regimen (4 extended cycles with 84 days of continuous administration of EE/DNG, followed by a hormone-free interval of 7 days). Blood samples were taken on Days 21-26 of the preceding control cycle and on Days 19-21 of the 3rd and 13th conventional cycle or on Days 82-84 of the first and fourth extended cycle.

Effects of an oral contraceptive containing 30 mcg ethinyl estradiol and 2 mg dienogest on thyroid hormones and androgen parameters: conventional vs. extended-cycle use.

Background: This study was conducted to investigate the effects of an oral contraceptive containing 30 mcg ethinyl estradiol and 2 mg dienogest on thyroid hormones and androgen parameters.

Study Design: Thyroid and androgen parameters were measured in 59 women treated with a monophasic combined oral contraceptive containing 30 mcg ethinyl estradiol and 2 mg dienogest (EE/DNG) either conventionally (13 cycles with 21 days of treatment+7 days without hormones) or according to an extended-cycle regimen (four extended cycles with 84 days of continuous administration of EE/DNG, followed by a hormone-free interval of 7 days). Blood samples were taken on Days 21-26 of the preceding control cycle and on Days 19-21 of the 3rd and 13th conventional cycle, or on Days 82-84 of the first and fourth extended cycle.

Umbilical endometriosis in pregnancy without previous surgery.

Objective: To illustrate the influence of pregnancy on primary umbilical endometriosis.

Design: Case report.

Setting: Gynecologic endocrinology outpatient department of a university hospital.

Utero-tubal sperm transport and its impairment in endometriosis and adenomyosis.

The uterus is composed of different smooth muscle layers that serve various functions. First, menstrual debris is expulsed at the time of the menses. Second, sperm is transported in the preovulatory phase to maximize fertility, and third, the human embryo is placed in an adequate setting during implantation.

Metabolic and clinical effects of progestogens.

Synthetic progestogens differ not only in their hormonal potency, but also in their spectrum of hormonal activities. Beside their progestogenic and anti-oestrogenic effects, they may exert oestrogenic, androgenic, antiandrogenic, glucocorticoid and/or anti-mineralocorticoid activities. Consequently, progestogens may influence various metabolic parameters and modulate oestrogen-induced alterations in lipid metabolism, haemostasis, and various other factors.

Extended and continuous use of hormonal contraceptives to reduce menstruation.

During the use of long-cycle regimens of monophasic oral contraceptives, the total number of bleeding and cycle-dependent complaints is considerably lower than during conventional treatment with oral contraceptives. Despite an initially higher rate of irregular bleeding, the majority of women prefer the long-cycle treatment since it may improve quality of life. As this regimen provides an enhanced ovarian suppression, it may prevent pregnancies, especially in noncompliant women or patients who are concomitantly treated with drugs that may impair the efficacy of oral contraceptives.

Fertility after discontinuation of treatment with an oral contraceptive containing 30 microg of ethinyl estradiol and 2 mg of dienogest.

Objective: To examine the conception rate after cessation of a combination of 30 microg ethinyl E2 and 2 mg dienogest (EE/DNG).

Design: Prospective observational study.

Setting: Population-based cohort in Germany.