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CC BY 4.0 · Rev Bras Ginecol Obstet 2022; 44(04): 442-448
DOI: 10.1055/s-0042-1748754
Febrasgo Position Statement

Progestogen-only oral contraceptives

Number 4 - April 2022
Rogério Bonassi Machado 
1   Faculdade de Medicina de Jundiaí, Jundiaí, SP, Brazil
,
Carlos Alberto Politano 
2   Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Campinas, SP, Brazil
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Key points

  • Progestogen-only oral contraceptives comprise pills composed of progestogens with distinct contraceptive properties, including central or peripheral effects.

  • Norethisterone acetate 0.35 mg, desogestrel 75 mcg and drospirenone 4 mg are the progestogen pills available in Brazil. The main mechanism of contraceptive action of desogestrel and drospirenone is the inhibition of the ovulation. The main effect of norethisterone is the alteration of cervical mucus.

  • Progestogens used alone for contraception that promote inhibition of the ovulation have greater contraceptive efficacy.

  • The bleeding profile of progestogen-only oral contraceptives is regimen dependent. Desogestrel and norethisterone taken continuously have a variable bleeding pattern, ranging from amenorrhea to spotting or even irregular bleeding. Drospirenone alone in a 24/4 regimen has a predictable bleeding pattern in most cases.

  • As progestogen pills have a lower risk of cardiovascular events, they are particularly indicated for women with contraindications to combined contraceptives, given the absence of estrogen in their formulations.

The National Specialized Commission on Contraception of the Brazilian Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics Associations (Febrasgo) endorses this document. The content production is based on scientific studies on a thematic proposal and the findings presented contribute to clinical practice.




Publication History

Article published online:
27 May 2022

© 2022. Federação Brasileira de Ginecologia e Obstetrícia. This is an open access article published by Thieme under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, permitting unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction so long as the original work is properly cited. (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)

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