Drospirenone for oral contraception and hormone replacement therapy: are its cardiovascular risks and benefits the same as other progestogens?

Drugs. 2007;67(5):647-55. doi: 10.2165/00003495-200767050-00001.

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.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Androstenes / therapeutic use*
  • Cardiovascular Diseases / prevention & control
  • Contraceptives, Oral / therapeutic use*
  • Hormone Replacement Therapy / methods*
  • Humans
  • Mineralocorticoid Receptor Antagonists / therapeutic use
  • Progestins / therapeutic use
  • Risk Assessment

Substances

  • Androstenes
  • Contraceptives, Oral
  • Mineralocorticoid Receptor Antagonists
  • Progestins
  • drospirenone