Estetrol – a new stage of combined hormonal contraception

Apolikhina I.A., Prilepskaya V.N., Gorbunova E.A., Mezhevitinova E.A., Bychkova A.E.

1) Academician V.I. Kulakov National Medical Research Center of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Perinatology, Ministry of Health of Russia, Moscow, Russia; 2) Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, Perinatology, and Reproductology, .Institute for Advanced Postgraduate Trainining, I.M. Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University (Sechenov University), Ministry of Health of Russia, Moscow, Russia
The paper analyzes the modern literature data on estetrol, a native fetal estrogen that has been proposed as an estrogen component in the combined oral contraceptives, where only ethynyl estradiol has been traditionally used. a number of preclinical and clinical trials have provided evidence that estetrol is an estrogen that has unique properties since it does not affect hepatic parameters and hemostasis, has an antiestrogen effect on breast tissue and in high doses demonstrates an antitumor effect in breast and prostate cancers. Due to the above properties, estetrol has become an estrogen that become potentially safe as a component of the combined oral contraceptive containing 15 mg of estetrol and 3 mg of drospirenon in one tablet to be used in the 24/4 regimen, which have been now completed and shown the high efficacy of the contraceptive agent, as well as due to the minimal side effects: a good patient compliance with its usage. All phases of clinical trials of the new combined hormonal contraceptive containing 15 mg of estetrol and 3 mg of drospirenone in one tablet to be used in the 24/4 regimen, which have now been completed and shown the high efficacy of the contraceptive agent, a high safety, as well as due to the minimal side effects: a good patient compliance with its usage. Phase III trials of the new combined hormonal contraceptive, which have now been completed and shown that the new agent esterette is already available for patients and physicians.
Conclusion: The new hormonal combined oral contraceptive with a fetal estrogen, estetrol in combination with drispirenone ensures effective contraception, predictable presentations of hemorrhage, and a favorable safety profile.

Authors' contributions: Apolikhina I.A. – concept and design of the review; Apolikhina I.A., Gorbunova E.A. – material collection, processing and analysis, writing the text; Apolikhina I.A., Gorbunova E.A., Prilepskaya V.N., Mezhevitinova E.A., Bychkova A.E. – editing the article.
Conflicts of interest: The authors declare that there are no conflicts of interest.
Funding: The investigation has not been sponsored.
For citation: Apolikhina I.A., Prilepskaya V.N., Gorbunova E.A., Mezhevitinova E.A.,
Bychkova A.E. Estetrol – a new stage of combined hormonal contraception.
Akusherstvo i Ginekologiya/Obstetrics and Gynecology. 2023; (3): 134-140 (in Russian)
https://dx.doi.org/10.18565/aig.2023.72

Keywords

contraception
combined hormonal contraception
combined oral contraceptives
estetrol
sexual hormones
hemostasis
metabolism
drospirinone
native estrogen
estrogen safety
estrogens
thrombosis
breast
breast cancer
Perl index

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Received 17.03.2023

Accepted 20.03.2023

About the Authors

Inna A. Apolikhina, Dr. Med Sci., Professor, Head of the Department of Aesthetic Gynecology and Rehabilitation, V.I. Kulakov National Medical Research Center for Obstetrics, Gynecology and Perinatology, Ministry of Health of Russia; Professor of the Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, Perinatology, and Reproductology, Institute
of Professional Education, I.M. Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University, Ministry of Health of Russia; Member of the Board of the Russian Society of Obstetricians and Gynecologists; President of the Association of Aesthetic Gynecology Specialists (AAGS), +7(495)735-10-55, i_apolikhina@oparina4.ru,
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4581-6295, 4, Akademika Oparina str., Moscow, 117997, Russia.
Vera N. Prilepskaya, Dr. Med. Sci., Professor, Honored Scientist of the Russian Federation, Head of the Scientific Polyclinic Department, V.I. Kulakov National Medical Research Center for Obstetrics, Gynecology and Perinatology, Ministry of Health of Russia, vprilepskaya@mail.ru, https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3993-7629,
4 Akademika Oparina str., Moscow, 117997, Russia.
Elena A. Gorbunova, Obstetrician-gynecologist, Researcher, Department of Aesthetic Gynecology and Rehabilitation, V.I. Kulakov National Medical Research Center for Obstetrics, Gynecology and Perinatology, Ministry of Health of Russia, +7(495)735-10-55, el_gorbunova@oparina4.ru,
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4723-4299, 4, Akademika Oparina str., Moscow, 117997, Russia.
Elena A. Mezhevitinova, Ph.D, Leading Researcher at the Scientific and Polyclinic Department, V.I. Kulakov National Medical Research Center for Obstetrics, Gynecology and Perinatology, Ministry of Health of Russia, mejevitinova@mail.ru, https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2977-9065, 4 Akademika Oparina str., Moscow, 117997, Russia.
Anastasia E. Bychkova, obstetrician-gynecologist at the Department of Aesthetic Gynecology and Rehabilitation V.I. Kulakov National Medical Research Center for Obstetrics, Gynecology and Perinatology, Ministry of Health of Russia, a_bychkova@oparina4.ru, https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4855-81-88,
4 Akademika Oparina str., Moscow, 117997, Russia.

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