Ovulan

Pharmacotherapeutic group: Progestogens and estrogens, fixed combinations ATC code: G03AA09 The contraceptive action of COCs is based on interaction of different factors, out of which the most important is the inhibition of ovulation and changes in the cervical secretion. Besides protection against pregnancy, COCs have several positive properties which, next to the negative properties (see Warnings, Undesirable effects), can be useful in deciding on the method of birth control. The cycle is more regular and the menstruation is often less painful and bleeding is lighter. The latter may result in a decrease in the occurrence of iron deficiency. In the largest multicenter trial (n=23 258 cycles), the uncorrected Pearl Index is estimated at 0.1 (95% confidence interval 0.0-0.3). Furthermore, 4.5% of the women reported absence of withdrawal bleeding and 9.2% reported occurrence of irregular bleeding after 6 treatment cycles. Bimizza is a COC with ethinylestradiol and the progestogen desogestrel. Ethinylestradiol is a well known synthetic estrogen. Desogestrel is a synthetic progestogen. After oral administration it has a strong ovulation-inhibiting activity, a strong progestational and anti-estrogenic activity, no estrogenic activity, very weak androgenic/anabolic activity With the use of the higher-dosed COCs (50µg ethinylestradiol) the risk of endometrial and ovarian cancer is reduced. Whether this also applies to lower-dosed COCs remains to be confirmed. Paediatric population No clinical data on efficacy and safety are available in adolescents below 18years.