A study to compare continuation rates between Yasmin® and existing combined oral contraceptives in UK clinical practice

D. Mansour (1), S. Lister (2)

Newcastle General Hospital, Newcastle, UK (1); CompuFile Ltd., Woking, Surrey, UK (2)

Introduction: Large comparative trials have shown Yasmin (30 µg ethinylestradiol/3 mg drospirenone) to have a contraceptive reliability and cycle control comparable with existing combined oral contraceptives (COCs). Drospirenone is a new progestogen unlike those found in existing COCs, having a pharmacological profile more closely related to natural progesterone. Noncomparative studies of Yasmin have demonstrated an improvement in androgen-related skin conditions, together with an improvement in some symptoms of premenstrual problems related to water retention.

Aims and Methods: To investigate if, in clinical practice, the pharmacological profile and non-contraceptive properties of Yasmin result in a higher continuation rate than those observed with existing COCs. Data were gathered from 163 nationally distributed GP practices across Great Britain. Women who met the inclusion criteria were followed for 12 months. An agematched comparator cohort of women using other COCs was drawn from the same practices concomitantly. Discontinuation of Yasmin or a comparator COC was defined as failure to return for another prescription for the same product within 1 cycle (4 weeks) of the end of the first prescription. Pregnancy, or the use of alternative contraception (excluding condoms, spermicides and emergency contraception), were also defined as discontinuation.

Results: Data from 632 women (mean age 27 years) were analysed. A significantly higher proportion of women in the Yasmin cohort continued to take their pill, compared with the comparator arm (8.5%, p=0.022). Additionally, women taking Yasmin were found to continue their pill for significantly longer than those in the comparator cohort (+35 days over a 12-month period) (p <0.001). Source of data: DIN-LINK data, CompuFile Ltd., November 2003

Conclusions: This study showed that continuation rates with Yasmin are significantly higher compared with comparator COCs. As the contraceptive efficacy and cycle control of Yasmin is comparable with existing COCs, it may be that the higher continuation rate is attributable to its pharmacological profile and associated non-contraceptive properties.