- Desogestrel
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Desogestrel Systematic (IUPAC) name 13-ethyl-17-ethynyl- 11-methylidene- 1,2,3,6,7,8,9,10,12,13,14,15, 16,17- tetradecahydrocyclopenta[a] phenanthren-17-ol Clinical data AHFS/Drugs.com Micromedex Detailed Consumer Information MedlinePlus a601050 Pregnancy cat. ? Legal status ? Pharmacokinetic data Protein binding 98.3% Identifiers CAS number 54024-22-5 ATC code G03AC09 PubChem CID 40973 DrugBank APRD00762 ChemSpider 37400 UNII 81K9V7M3A3 KEGG D02367 ChEBI CHEBI:4453 ChEMBL CHEMBL1533 Chemical data Formula C22H30O Mol. mass 310.473 g/mol SMILES eMolecules & PubChem (what is this?) (verify) Desogestrel is a molecule used in hormonal contraceptives.
Contents
Benefits
Third generation pills have been shown to resolve or to reduce acne and hirsutism. They are suitable for use in patients with diabetes or lipid disorders because they have minimal impact on blood glucose levels and the lipid profile. Their dosage is lower than other oral contraceptives.
Controversy
In February 2007, the consumer advocacy group Public Citizen released a petition requesting that the FDA ban oral contraceptives containing desogestrel, citing studies going as far back as 1995 that suggest the risk of dangerous blood clots is doubled for women on such pills in comparison to other oral contraceptives. In 2009, Public Citizen released a list of recommendations that included numerous alternative, second-generation birth control pills that women could take in place of oral contraceptives containing desogestrel. Most of those second-generation medications have been on the market longer and have been shown to be as effective in preventing unwanted pregnancy, but with a lower risk of blood clots.
Most combined oral contraceptive pills (COCPs, or simply OCs) on the market today contain both an estrogen compound (ethinyl estradiol is common) plus a progestin (a progesterone-like compound) such as desogestrel.
As such, desogestrel-containing birth control pills are sometimes referred to as "third generation" oral contraceptives. Drugs cited specifically in the petition include Apri-28, Cyclessa, Desogen, Kariva, Mircette, Ortho-Cept, Reclipsen, Velivet and some generic pills. Birth control pills that are considered "second generation" (Tri-Levlen, for example) contain an estrogen and a progestin, but the progestin is different, such as levonorgestrel.
Recent studies have shown that the use of desogestrel has been linked with increased ear growth caused by the estrogen compound: Phthalates. Research studies for a replacement are currently ongoing, and the drug is still readily available because health and safety rules have not been breached.
The dispute is whether third generation OCs are less safe than the second generations OCs, which are considered the current "gold standard" in terms of oral contraceptive safety.
See also
References
- Public Citizen’s Health Research Group: Petition to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to Ban Third Generation Oral Contraceptives Containing Desogestrel due to Increased Risk of Venous Thrombosis HRG Publication #1799, 2007
- Dr Lisa E. More, ClotCare.com: Should 3rd generation be banned? 2007
- Public Citizen Think Twice About Third-Generation Oral Contraceptives and YASMIN Worst Pills, Best Pills, December, 2009
Estrogens and progestogens (G03C-D, L02) Progestogens/
progestins
(progesterone)AgonistAndrostene (Drospirenone) • 19-norprogesterone (Nomegestrol • Promegestone • Trimegestone) • 19-nortestosterone (Dienogest)Other/
ungroupedPregnenedione (Gestonorone) • Pregnene (Ethisterone) • Pregnadiene (Medrogestone • Melengestrol) • Norpregnane (Norgestrienone) • Lynestrenol • Norethynodrel • Tibolone • Dydrogesterone • Quingestanolantagonist: MifepristoneAsoprisnil • CDB-4124 • Ulipristal acetateEstrogens AgonistDiosgenin • Estradiol (Ethinylestradiol#/Mestranol • Estradiol 17 beta-cypionate# • Polyestradiol phosphate) • Estrone (Estrone sulfate) • Estriol • Promestriene • Equilenin • EquilinAfimoxifene • Arzoxifene • Bazedoxifene • Cyclofenil • Lasofoxifene • Ormeloxifene • Raloxifene • Tamoxifen • Toremifenepure antagonist: FulvestrantThis drug article relating to the genito-urinary system is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.