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Drospirenone for Oral Contraception and Hormone Replacement Therapy

Are its Cardiovascular Risks and Benefits the Same as Other Progestogens?

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Abstract

The use of combined estrogen/progesterone has been shown to result in an increased cardiovascular risk in randomised double-blinded trials. However, these studies used oral progestogen (progestin) preparations, which lack anti-mineralocorticoid activity and have suboptimal anti-androgenic activity compared with progesterone. Drospirenone is a unique progestogen that has clinically been shown to have anti-mineralocorticoid/anti-androgenic effects. Drospirenone in combination with estrogen is currently being used for oral contraception and hormone replacement therapy, and has been shown to have favourable effects on a number of cardiovascular risk factors. Our review of the literature suggests that because of its anti-mineralocorticoid effects, drospirenone in conjunction with estrogen may prevent the development of cardiovascular disease in both pre- and post-menopausal women.

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Notes

  1. The use of trade names is for product identification purposes only and does not imply endorsement.

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Acknowledgements

No sources of funding were used to assist in the preparation of this review. Dr Pitt has acted as a consultant for Berlex, Pfizer, Novartis and Alteon. Dr Motivala has no conflicts of interest that are directly relevant to the content of this review.

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  1. Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan Health System, University of Michigan Medical Center, 1500 East Medical Center Drive, Ann Arbor, Michigan, 48109, USA

    Apurva Motivala &  Bertram Pitt

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  1. Apurva Motivala
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  2. Bertram Pitt
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Correspondence to Bertram Pitt.

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Motivala, A., Pitt, B. Drospirenone for Oral Contraception and Hormone Replacement Therapy. Drugs 67, 647–655 (2007). https://doi.org/10.2165/00003495-200767050-00001

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