Effect of drospirenone-containing combined oral contraceptive pills on anthropometric and sonographic characteristics and carbohydrate metabolism parameters in women with polycystic ovary syndrome

Abstract

L.V. Saprykina, M.R. Narimanova, D.M. Ibragimova Pirogov Russian National Research Medical University, Moscow, Russian Federation Background: polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is an endocrine disorder affecting 10% of women of reproductive age. Combined oral contraceptive pills (COCP) are effective in PCOS. Drospirenone is a new progestin with properties similar to natural progesterone (including anti-mineralocorticoid and antiandrogenic activities). Aim: to evaluate the effect of drospirenone-containing COCP (20 µg ethinylestradiol and 3 mg drospirenone) on anthropometric and sonographic characteristics, and carbohydrate metabolism parameters in women with PCOS. Patients and Methods: this prospective study enrolled 22 women of reproductive age (mean age 22.1±0.5 years) with PCOS. All females were treated during six cycles (28 days each). At baseline and 6 months after starting treatment, anthropometric (body mass index/BMI, waist-to-hip ratio/WHR) and sonographic (ovary volume) characteristics, and carbohydrate metabolism parameters (plasma insulin, fasting glucose, homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance/HOMA-IR) were assessed. Results: 6 months after starting treatment, a significant (p<0.05) reduction in BMI (from 22.54±0.43 kg/m2 to 20.86±0.26 kg/m2), WHR (from 0.81±0.01 to 0.78±0.01), and ovary volume (left ovary: from 12.75±0.43 cm3 to 8.05±0.15 cm3; right ovary: from 13.0±0.54 cm3 to 8.63±0.14 cm3) was reported. Meanwhile, no significant (р>0.05) changes in plasma insulin concentration (9.91±0.42 µU/ml vs. 9.52±0.31 µU/ml), fasting blood glucose (4.95±0.08 mmol/l vs. 4.9±0.07 mmol/l), and HOMA-IR (3.2±1.12 vs. 3.06±0.07) compared to baseline levels were reported. The most common side effects were headache or dizziness (n=3, 13.6%), nausea (n=2, 9.1%) and irregular bleeding (n=3, 13.6%). Conclusion: drospirenone-containing COCP has a beneficial effect on anthropometric paramaters and ovary volume but does not affect carbohydrate metabolism. This drug is characterized by excellent compliance. Keywords: polycystic ovary syndrome, drospirenone, body mass index, waist-hip ratio, reproductive age, ovary volume, glucose, insulin, carbohydrates, HOMA-IR. For citation: Saprykina L.V., Narimanova M.R., Ibragimova D.M. Effect of drospirenone-containing combined oral contraceptive pills on anthropometric and sonographic characteristics and carbohydrate metabolism parameters in women with polycystic ovary syndrome. Russian Journal of Woman and Child Health. 2022;5(2):118–121 (in Russ.). DOI: 10.32364/2618-8430-2022-5-2-118-121.