A randomized, double-blind study of six combined oral contraceptives

While COCs containing 20 mcg EE may be theoretically safer, this review did not focus on the rare events required to assess this hypothesis. Data from randomized controlled trials are inadequate to detect possible differences in contraceptive effectiveness. Low-dose estrogen COCs resulted in higher rates of bleeding pattern disruptions. However, most trials compared COCs containing different progestin types, and changes in bleeding patterns could be related to progestin type as well as estrogen dose.

20 µg versus >20 µg estrogen combined oral contraceptives for contraception

Gallo¹,

Nanda²,

Grimes³

et al. 2005

20 µg versus >20 µg estrogen combined oral contraceptives for contraception

Gallo¹,

Nanda²,

Grimes³

et al. 2008

While COCs containing 20 microg EE may be theoretically safer, this review did not focus on the rare events required to assess this hypothesis. Data from existing randomized controlled trials are inadequate to detect possible differences in contraceptive effectiveness. Low-dose estrogen COCs resulted in higher rates of bleeding pattern disruptions. However, most trials compared COCs containing different progestin types, and changes in bleeding patterns could be related to progestin type as well as estrogen dose. Higher follow-up rates are essential for meaningful interpretation of results.

20 µg versus >20 µg estrogen combined oral contraceptives for contraception

Gallo¹,

Nanda²,

Grimes³

et al. 2011

While COCs containing 20 μg EE may be theoretically safer, this review did not focus on the rare events required to assess this hypothesis. Data from existing randomized controlled trials are inadequate to detect possible differences in contraceptive effectiveness. Low-dose estrogen COCs resulted in higher rates of bleeding pattern disruptions. However, most trials compared COCs containing different progestin types, and changes in bleeding patterns could be related to progestin type as well as estrogen dose. Higher follow-up rates are essential for meaningful interpretation of results.