Fertility and Sterility
Volume 76, Issue 3 , Pages 461-468 , September 2001

A randomized, controlled trial of a low-dose contraceptive containing 20 μg of ethinyl estradiol and 100 μg of levonorgestrel for acne treatment

Some of the data from this study were presented at The European Society of Contraception in Ljubljana, Slovenia, June 28–July 1, 2000 and at the World Congress of Gynecological Endocrinology in Florence, Italy, December 8–10, 2000.

  • Diane Thiboutot, M.D.

      Affiliations

    • Division of Dermatology, Pennsylvania State University, Hershey, PA, USA
    • ,
  • David F Archer, M.D.

      Affiliations

    • Jones Institute of Reproductive Medicine, Norfolk, VA, USA
    • ,
  • André Lemay, M.D., Ph.D.

      Affiliations

    • Endocrinologie de la Reproduction, Pav. St-Francois d’Assise, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Québec, Quabec, Canada
    • ,
  • Ken Washenik, M.D., Ph.D.

      Affiliations

    • Department of Dermatology, New York University Medical Center, New York, NY, USA
    • ,
  • Janet Roberts, M.D.

      Affiliations

    • Northwest Cutaneous Research Specialists, Portland, OR, USA
    • ,
  • Diane D Harrison, M.D.

      Affiliations

    • Wyeth-Ayerst Pharmaceuticals, St. Davids, PA, USA
    • Corresponding Author InformationReprint requests: Diane D. Harrison, M.D., Clinical Affairs, Wyeth-Ayerst Pharmaceuticals, 555 E. Lancaster Avenue, 3rd Floor, St. Davids, Pennsylvania 19087 (FAX: 610-995-4620 )

Received 8 December 2000 ,Revised 2 March 2001 ,Accepted 2 March 2001.

References 

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  6. Thorneycroft IH, Stanczyk FZ, Bradshaw KD, Ballagh SA, Nichols M, Weber ME. Effect of low-dose oral contraceptives on androgenic markers and acne. Contraception. 1999;60:255–262
  7. Åkerlund M, Almström E, Högstedt S, Nabrink M. Oral contraceptive tablets containing 20 and 30 μg of ethinyl estradiol with 150 μg desogestrel. Their influence on lipids, lipoproteins, sex hormone binding globulin and testosterone. Acta Obstet Gynecol Scand. 1994;73:136–143
  8. Coenen CMH, Thomas CMG, Borm GF, Hollanders JMG, Rolland R. Changes in androgens during treatment with four low-dose contraceptives. Contraception. 1996;53:171–176
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  10. Lemay A, Dewailly SD, Grenier R, Huard J. Attenuation of mild hyperandrogenic activity in postpubertal acne by a triphasic oral contraceptive containing low doses of ethinyl estradiol and d,l-norgestrel. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 1990;71:8–14
  11. van der Vange N, Blankenstein MA, Kloosterboer HJ, Haspels AA, Thijssen JHH. Effects of seven low-dose combined oral contraceptives on sex hormone binding globulin, corticosteroid binding globulin, total and free testosterone. Contraception. 1990;41:345–352
  12. Yamamoto T, Okada H. Clinical usefulness of low-dose oral contraceptives for the treatment of adolescent hyperandrogenemia. Asia Oceania J Obstet Gynaecol. 1994;20:225–230
  13. Redmond GP, Olson WH, Lippman JS, Kafrissen ME, Jones TM, Jorizzo JL. Norgestimate and ethinyl estradiol in the treatment of acne vulgaris (a randomized, placebo-controlled trial). Obstet Gynecol. 1997;89:615–622
  14. Lucky AW, Henderson TA, Olson WH, Robisch DM, Lebwohl M, Swinyer LJ. Effectiveness of norgestimate and ethinyl estradiol in treating moderate acne vulgaris. J Am Acad Dermatol. 1997;37(5 Pt1):746–754
  15. Mango D, Ricci S, Manna P, Miggiano GAD, Serra GB. Clinical and hormonal effects of ethinylestradiol combined with gestodene and desogestrel in young women with acne vulgaris. Contraception. 1996;53:163–170
  16. Palatsi R, Hirvensalo E, Liukko P, Malmiharju T, Mattila L, Riihiluoma P, et al.  Serum total and unbound testosterone and sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG) in female acne patients treated with two different oral contraceptives. Acta Derm Venereol. 1984;64:517–523
  17. North American Levonorgestrel Study Group (NALSG) Archer DF, Maheux R, DelConte A, O’Brien FB. A new low-dose monophasic combination oral contraceptive (Alesse) with levonorgestrel 100 μg and ethinyl estradiol 20 μg. Contraception. 1997;55:139–144
  18. North American Levonorgestrel Study Group (NALSG) Archer DF, Maheux R, DelConte A, O’Brien FB. Efficacy and safety of a low-dose monophasic combination oral contraceptive containing 100 μg levonorgestrel and 20 μg ethinyl estradiol (Alesse). Am J Obstet Gynecol. 1999;181(Suppl):S39–S44
  19. DelConte A, Loffer F, Grubb GS. Cycle control with oral contraceptives containing 20 μg of ethinyl estradiol. A multicenter, randomized comparison of levonorgestrel/ethinyl estradiol (100 μg/20 μg) and norethindrone/ethinyl estradiol (1000 μg/20 μg). Contraception. 1999;59:187–193
  20. IMS America, Ltd. Oral contraceptive market product appearances by age group. National Disease and Therapeutic Index, 1–2. Ambler, PA: IMS America, Ltd., 2000.
  21. Lucky AW, Barber BL, Girman CJ, Williams J, Ratterman J, Waldstreicher J. A multirater validation study to assess the reliability of acne lesion counting. J Am Acad Dermatol. 1996;35:559–565
  22. Pochi PE, Shalita AR, Strauss JS, Webster SB, Cunliffe WJ, Katz HI, et al.  Report of the Consensus Conference on Acne Classification. Washington, D.C., March 24 and 25, 1990. J Am Acad Dermatol. 1991;24:495–500
  23. van Hooff MHA, Hirasing RA, Kaptein MBM, Koppenaal C, Voorhorst FJ, Schoemaker J. The use of oral contraceptives by adolescents for contraception, menstrual cycle problems or acne. Acta Obstet Gynecol Scand. 1998;77:898–904
  24. Redmond G, Godwin AJ, Olson W, Lippman JS. Use of placebo controls in an oral contraceptive trial (methodological issues and adverse event incidence). Contraception. 2000;60:81–85

☆ Supported by Wyeth-Ayerst Laboratories, St. Davids, Pennsylvania.

PII: S0015-0282(01)01938-0

Fertility and Sterility
Volume 76, Issue 3 , Pages 461-468 , September 2001

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