Combined injectable birth control | |
---|---|
Background | |
Type | Hormonal |
First use | By 1969 |
Failure rates (first year) | |
Perfect use | 0–0.2% [1] |
Typical use | ? |
Usage | |
Duration effect | 1 month |
User reminders | ? |
Advantages and disadvantages | |
STI protection | No |
Benefits | Especially good if poor pill compliance |
Combined injectable contraceptives (CICs) are a form of hormonal birth control for women. They consist of monthly injections of combined formulations containing an estrogen and a progestin to prevent pregnancy.
CICs are different from progestogen-only injectable contraceptives (POICs), such as depot medroxyprogesterone acetate (DMPA; brand names Depo-Provera, Depo-SubQ Provera 104) and norethisterone enantate (NETE; brand name Noristerat), which are not combined with an estrogen and are given once every two to three months instead of once a month. [2]
Hormonal contraception works primarily by preventing ovulation, but it may also thicken the cervical mucus inhibiting sperm penetration. [3] [4] [5] Hormonal contraceptives also have effects on the endometrium, [6] [7] that theoretically could affect implantation. [8] [9] [10] [11]
CICs are administered by intramuscular injection into the deltoid, gluteus maximus, or anterior thigh. [1] They are ideally administered every 28 to 30 days, though they have been demonstrated to be effective up to 33 days. [1]
Some CICs have been said to be used by transgender women as a means of feminizing hormone therapy as well. [12]
Composition | Dose | Vehicle | Brand Names | Availability |
---|---|---|---|---|
Estradiol valerate / Norethisterone enantate | 5 mg / 50 mg | Oil solution | Multiple [a] | Approved in at least 36 countries |
Estradiol cypionate / Medroxyprogesterone acetate | 5 mg / 25 mg | Microcrystalline aqueous suspension | Multiple [b] | Approved in at least 18 countries |
Estradiol enantate / Algestone acetophenide a | 10 mg / 150 mg | Oil solution | Multiple [c] | Approved in at least 19 countries |
5 mg / 75 mg | Oil solution | Anafertin†, Patector NF, Yectames | Approved at least 9 countries | |
10 mg / 120 mg | Oil solution | Unalmes, Yectuna | Approved in at least 3 countries | |
10 mg / 75 mg | Oil solution | Ova Repos† | Discontinued (firm was in Spain) | |
Estradiol benzoate butyrate / Algestone acetophenide | 10 mg / 150 mg | Oil solution? | Redimen, Soluna, Unijab, Unimens§ | Approved in Peru and Singapore |
Estradiol valerate / Hydroxyprogesterone caproate | 5 mg / 250 mg | Oil solution | Chinese Injectable No. 1 | Approved in China |
Estradiol / Megestrol acetate | 3.5 mg / 25 mg | Microcrystalline aqueous suspension | Chinese Injectable No. 2, Mego-E | Approved in China |
Estradiol cypionate / Hydroxyprogesterone caproate | 5 mg / 250 mg | Oil solution? | Sinbios† | Discontinued (firm was in Mexico) |
Estradiol valerate / Estradiol benzoate / Hydroxyprogesterone caproate | 10 mg / 1 mg / 250 mg | Oil solution? | Sin-Ol† | Discontinued (firm was in Mexico) |
Notes: All are given by intramuscular injection once a month. Footnotes:† = Discontinued. § = Never marketed. a = Unsorted brand names (doses unknown; for E2-EN/DHPA ): Evitas† and Femineo†. Sources: [13] [2] [14] [15] [16] [17] [18] [19] [20] [21] [22] [23]
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A variety of different CICs, generally containing a short-acting natural estradiol ester and a long-acting progestin ester, are available for clinical use. [24] [15] [2] [16] [13] Estrogens that are used include estradiol valerate, estradiol cypionate, estradiol enantate, estradiol benzoate butyrate, and estradiol, while progestins that are used include norethisterone enantate, medroxyprogesterone acetate, algestone acetophenide (dihydroxyprogesterone acetophenide), hydroxyprogesterone caproate, and megestrol acetate. [15] [2] [16] [13] Estradiol benzoate has a duration that is too short for once-monthly CICs, and is not used in them. [25] Conversely, estradiol enantate is said to have a duration that is too long for once-monthly CICs, but is nonetheless used in them. [25]
Side effects of CICs, besides menstrual bleeding changes, are minimal. [26] The most prominent side effects of CICs are menstrual irregularities during the first 3 to 6 months of use. [1] Dysmenorrhea has been reported in 30 to 65% of women. [26] Other side effects include breast tenderness/pain, headache, and libido changes. [26] Some fluid retention can occur, but weight gain is minimal. [26] Local injection site reactions have also been reported in 15 to 35% of women. [26]
Effects of CICs on coagulation and fibrinolysis are minimal and are not thought to be clinically relevant. [27] Conversely, combined oral contraceptive pills containing ethinylestradiol have considerable effects on coagulation and fibrinolysis. [27] The differences can be attributed to the lack of the first-pass effect with parenteral administration as well as structural and pharmacological differences between estradiol and ethinylestradiol. [28] [29]
CICs contain an estrogen and a progestin. The estrogen is generally a short-acting estradiol ester, which acts as a prodrug of estradiol. [24] Esters of estradiol are natural and bioidentical estrogens, and are believed to have more favorable effects on lipid metabolism, cardiovascular health, and hemostasis than synthetic estrogens such as ethinylestradiol. [30] [31] [32] The progestin is a long-acting progestogen ester, which may or may not act as a prodrug. [24] Progesterone derivatives including medroxyprogesterone acetate, algestone acetophenide (dihydroxyprogesterone acetophenide), hydroxyprogesterone caproate, and megestrol acetate are active themselves and are not prodrugs, whereas the testosterone derivative norethisterone enantate is a prodrug of norethisterone. Regardless of whether they are prodrugs or not, steroid esters form a depot and have an extended duration of action due to a depot effect when administered by intramuscular or subcutaneous injection.
Because CICs are administered parenterally, they bypass the first-pass effect in the liver and intestines that occurs with oral administration of estrogens. [24] However, is estimated that about 20% of an administered dose does still eventually pass through the liver. [24] Hence, these preparations are not completely liver-neutral. [24] Nonetheless, they have dramatically reduced hepatic effects relative to oral ethinylestradiol. [28] In addition, parenteral estradiol in general has about 4- or 5-fold reduced potency in the liver than oral estradiol. [28]
CICs have antigonadotropic effects via their estrogenic and progestogenic activity and inhibit fertility and suppress sex hormone levels. A single intramuscular injection of estradiol valerate/norethisterone enanthate (5 mg/50 mg) (Mesigyna) has been found to strongly suppress testosterone levels in men. [33] Testosterone levels decreased from a baseline of ~503 ng/dL to a trough of ~30 ng/dL (a 94% decrease) which occurred at day 7 post-injection. [33]
Preparation | Form | Dose | Estradiol Cmax | Estradiol Tmax |
---|---|---|---|---|
EV/NETE | Oil solution | 5 mg/50 mg | 232–428 pg/mL | 2 days |
EC/MPA | Aqueous suspension | 5 mg/25 mg | 184–736 pg/mL | 2–4 days |
EEn/DHPA | Oil solution | 10 mg/150 mg | 314–317 pg/mL | 4.2–8.1 days |
5 mg/75 mg | 148 pg/mL | 6.5 days |
Estrogen | Form | Dose (mg) | Duration by dose (mg) | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
EPD | CICD | ||||
Estradiol | Aq. soln. | ? | – | <1 d | |
Oil soln. | 40–60 | – | 1–2 ≈ 1–2 d | ||
Aq. susp. | ? | 3.5 | 0.5–2 ≈ 2–7 d; 3.5 ≈ >5 d | ||
Microsph. | ? | – | 1 ≈ 30 d | ||
Estradiol benzoate | Oil soln. | 25–35 | – | 1.66 ≈ 2–3 d; 5 ≈ 3–6 d | |
Aq. susp. | 20 | – | 10 ≈ 16–21 d | ||
Emulsion | ? | – | 10 ≈ 14–21 d | ||
Estradiol dipropionate | Oil soln. | 25–30 | – | 5 ≈ 5–8 d | |
Estradiol valerate | Oil soln. | 20–30 | 5 | 5 ≈ 7–8 d; 10 ≈ 10–14 d; 40 ≈ 14–21 d; 100 ≈ 21–28 d | |
Estradiol benz. butyrate | Oil soln. | ? | 10 | 10 ≈ 21 d | |
Estradiol cypionate | Oil soln. | 20–30 | – | 5 ≈ 11–14 d | |
Aq. susp. | ? | 5 | 5 ≈ 14–24 d | ||
Estradiol enanthate | Oil soln. | ? | 5–10 | 10 ≈ 20–30 d | |
Estradiol dienanthate | Oil soln. | ? | – | 7.5 ≈ >40 d | |
Estradiol undecylate | Oil soln. | ? | – | 10–20 ≈ 40–60 d; 25–50 ≈ 60–120 d | |
Polyestradiol phosphate | Aq. soln. | 40–60 | – | 40 ≈ 30 d; 80 ≈ 60 d; 160 ≈ 120 d | |
Estrone | Oil soln. | ? | – | 1–2 ≈ 2–3 d | |
Aq. susp. | ? | – | 0.1–2 ≈ 2–7 d | ||
Estriol | Oil soln. | ? | – | 1–2 ≈ 1–4 d | |
Polyestriol phosphate | Aq. soln. | ? | – | 50 ≈ 30 d; 80 ≈ 60 d | |
Notes and sources Notes: All aqueous suspensions are of microcrystalline particle size. Estradiol production during the menstrual cycle is 30–640 µg/d (6.4–8.6 mg total per month or cycle). The vaginal epithelium maturation dosage of estradiol benzoate or estradiol valerate has been reported as 5 to 7 mg/week. An effective ovulation-inhibiting dose of estradiol undecylate is 20–30 mg/month. Sources: See template. |
Compound | Form | Dose for specific uses (mg) [c] | DOA [d] | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
TFD [e] | POICD [f] | CICD [g] | ||||
Algestone acetophenide | Oil soln. | - | – | 75–150 | 14–32 d | |
Gestonorone caproate | Oil soln. | 25–50 | – | – | 8–13 d | |
Hydroxyprogest. acetate [h] | Aq. susp. | 350 | – | – | 9–16 d | |
Hydroxyprogest. caproate | Oil soln. | 250–500 [i] | – | 250–500 | 5–21 d | |
Medroxyprog. acetate | Aq. susp. | 50–100 | 150 | 25 | 14–50+ d | |
Megestrol acetate | Aq. susp. | - | – | 25 | >14 d | |
Norethisterone enanthate | Oil soln. | 100–200 | 200 | 50 | 11–52 d | |
Progesterone | Oil soln. | 200 [i] | – | – | 2–6 d | |
Aq. soln. | ? | – | – | 1–2 d | ||
Aq. susp. | 50–200 | – | – | 7–14 d | ||
Notes and sources:
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The first CIC to be studied was estradiol valerate/hydroxyprogesterone caproate (EV/OHPC) in 1963, and the second CIC to be studied was estradiol enantate/algestone acetophenide (E2-EN/DHPA) in 1964. [26] [25] In 1967, E2-EN/DHPA was in the late stages of clinical development. [53] [26] By 1969, the medication was available for medical use under the brand name Perlutal. [54] Within a few years, it was marketed under other brand names such as Topasel and Ova-Repos as well. [55] [56] [57] [58] In addition, several other CICs had been introduced for medical use by 1972. [58] By 1976, two major CICs were in use: E2-EN/DHPA (brand names Perlutan, Topasel) in Spain and Latin America, and EV/OHPC (brand name Injectable No. 1) in China. [59] These CICs have been described as first-generation CICs. [59] Two second-generation CICs, estradiol cypionate/medroxyprogesterone acetate (EC/MPA; brand names Cyclofem and later Lunelle) and estradiol valerate/norethisterone enantate (EV/NETE; brand name Mesigyna), were introduced for clinical use in 1993. [60] [14] [15] On 5 October 2000, Pharmacia received FDA approval for Lunelle Monthly Contraceptive Injection. [1] In April 2003, Pharmacia was acquired by Pfizer (makers of depot medroxyprogesterone acetate).[ citation needed ] In October 2003, Lunelle was discontinued in the United States.[ citation needed ]
CICs are available in many countries throughout the world, including widely throughout Central and South America, in Mexico and the Caribbean, in China, in several Southeast Asian and African countries, and in Turkey. [21] [22] [23] [13] [2] [14] [15] [16] [17] They were also previously available in the United States, Portugal, and Spain, but have been discontinued in these countries. [22] [23]
Many other CICs have been studied but have not been approved or marketed for clinical use. [15] [16] [61] [25] [62] [2]
The following are marketed CICs at different doses than those that are approved:
The half-progestin-dose formulation of estradiol valerate/norethisterone enantate (5 mg / 25 mg) is also known as HRP-103 and the half-progestin-dose formulation of estradiol cypionate/medroxyprogesterone acetate (5 mg / 12.5 mg) is also known as HRP-113. [63]
The following are CICs that have never been marketed:
A progestogen, also referred to as a progestagen, gestagen, or gestogen, is a type of medication which produces effects similar to those of the natural female sex hormone progesterone in the body. A progestin is a synthetic progestogen. Progestogens are used most commonly in hormonal birth control and menopausal hormone therapy. They can also be used in the treatment of gynecological conditions, to support fertility and pregnancy, to lower sex hormone levels for various purposes, and for other indications. Progestogens are used alone or in combination with estrogens. They are available in a wide variety of formulations and for use by many different routes of administration. Examples of progestogens include natural or bioidentical progesterone as well as progestins such as medroxyprogesterone acetate and norethisterone.
Estradiol valerate (EV), sold for use by mouth under the brand name Progynova and for use by injection under the brand names Delestrogen and Progynon Depot among others, is an estrogen medication. It is used in hormone therapy for menopausal symptoms and low estrogen levels, hormone therapy for transgender people, and in hormonal birth control. It is also used in the treatment of prostate cancer. The medication is taken by mouth or by injection into muscle or fat once every 1 to 4 weeks.
Norethisterone, also known as norethindrone and sold under the brand name Norlutin among others, is a progestin medication used in birth control pills, menopausal hormone therapy, and for the treatment of gynecological disorders. The medication is available in both low-dose and high-dose formulations and both alone and in combination with an estrogen. It is used by mouth or, as norethisterone enanthate, by injection into muscle.
Algestone acetophenide, also known more commonly as dihydroxyprogesterone acetophenide (DHPA) and sold under the brand names Perlutal and Topasel among others, is a progestin medication which is used in combination with an estrogen as a form of long-lasting injectable birth control. It has also been used alone, but is no longer available as a standalone medication. DHPA is not active by mouth and is given once a month by injection into muscle.
Medroxyprogesterone acetate (MPA), also known as depot medroxyprogesterone acetate (DMPA) in injectable form and sold under the brand name Depo-Provera among others, is a hormonal medication of the progestin type. It is used as a method of birth control and as a part of menopausal hormone therapy. It is also used to treat endometriosis, abnormal uterine bleeding, paraphilia, and certain types of cancer. The medication is available both alone and in combination with an estrogen. It is taken by mouth, used under the tongue, or by injection into a muscle or fat.
Estradiol cypionate (EC), sold under the brand name Depo-Estradiol among others, is an estrogen medication which is used in hormone therapy for menopausal symptoms and low estrogen levels in women, in hormone therapy for trans women, and in hormonal birth control for women. It is given by injection into muscle once every 1 to 4 weeks.
Norethisterone enanthate (NETE), also known as norethindrone enanthate, is a form of hormonal birth control which is used to prevent pregnancy in women. It is used both as a form of progestogen-only injectable birth control and in combined injectable birth control formulations. It may be used following childbirth, miscarriage, or abortion. The failure rate per year in preventing pregnancy for the progestogen-only formulation is 2 per 100 women. Each dose of this form lasts two months with only up to two doses typically recommended.
Estradiol enantate, also spelled estradiol enanthate and sold under the brand names Perlutal and Topasel among others, is an estrogen medication which is used in hormonal birth control for women. It is formulated in combination with dihydroxyprogesterone acetophenide, a progestin, and is used specifically as a combined injectable contraceptive. Estradiol enantate is not available for medical use alone. The medication, in combination with DHPA, is given by injection into muscle once a month.
An estrogen ester is an ester of an estrogen, most typically of estradiol but also of other estrogens such as estrone, estriol, and even nonsteroidal estrogens like diethylstilbestrol. Esterification renders estradiol into a prodrug of estradiol with increased resistance to first-pass metabolism, slightly improving its oral bioavailability. In addition, estrogen esters have increased lipophilicity, which results in a longer duration when given by intramuscular or subcutaneous injection due to the formation of a long-lasting local depot in muscle and fat. Conversely, this is not the case with intravenous injection or oral administration. Estrogen esters are rapidly hydrolyzed into their parent estrogen by esterases once they have been released from the depot. Because estradiol esters are prodrugs of estradiol, they are considered to be natural and bioidentical forms of estrogen.
Combined birth control pills that contain natural estradiol or an estradiol ester include:
Estradiol benzoate butyrate (EBB), sold under the brand names Neolutin N, Redimen, Soluna, and Unijab and formerly known under the developmental code name Unimens, is an estrogen medication which is used in hormonal birth control for women. It is formulated in combination with dihydroxyprogesterone acetophenide, a progestin, and is used specifically as a combined injectable contraceptive. EBB is not available for medical use alone. The medication, in combination with DHPA, is given by injection into muscle once a month.
Estradiol (E2) is a medication and naturally occurring steroid hormone. It is an estrogen and is used mainly in menopausal hormone therapy and to treat low sex hormone levels in women. It is also used in hormonal birth control for women, in feminizing hormone therapy for transgender women, and in the treatment of hormone-sensitive cancers like prostate cancer in men and breast cancer in women, among other uses. Estradiol can be taken by mouth, held and dissolved under the tongue, as a gel or patch that is applied to the skin, in through the vagina, by injection into muscle or fat, or through the use of an implant that is placed into fat, among other routes.
Estradiol cypionate/medroxyprogesterone acetate (EC/MPA), sold under the brand name Cyclofem among others, is a form of combined injectable birth control. It contains estradiol cypionate (EC), an estrogen, and medroxyprogesterone acetate (MPA), a progestin. It is recommended for short-term use and is given once a month by injection into a muscle.
Estradiol valerate/norethisterone enantate (EV/NETE), sold under the brand name Mesigyna among others, is a form of combined injectable birth control which is used to prevent pregnancy in women. It contains estradiol valerate (EV), an estrogen, and norethisterone enantate (NETE), a progestin. The medication is given once a month by injection into muscle.
Estradiol valerate/hydroxyprogesterone caproate (EV/OHPC), sold under the brand names Gravibinon and Injectable No. 1 among others, is a combined estrogen and progestogen medication which is used in the treatment of threatened miscarriage and other indications and as a form of combined injectable birth control to prevent pregnancy. It contains estradiol valerate (EV), an estrogen, and hydroxyprogesterone caproate (OHPC), a progestin. The medication is given by injection into muscle once a day to once a month depending on the indication.
Estradiol enantate/algestone acetophenide, also known as estradiol enantate/dihydroxyprogesterone acetophenide (E2-EN/DHPA) and sold under the brand names Perlutal and Topasel among others, is a form of combined injectable birth control which is used to prevent pregnancy. It contains estradiol enantate (E2-EN), an estrogen, and algestone acetophenide, a progestin. The medication is given once a month by injection into muscle.
Methenmadinone caproate is a progestin medication which was developed in Czechoslovakia in the 1960s and was studied for potential use in combined injectable contraceptives in the 1970s but was never marketed. It was studied as a combined injectable contraceptive in combination with estradiol valerate at doses of 60 mg and 10 mg, respectively, once a month by intramuscular injection. MMC is the C17α caproate (hexanoate) ester of methenmadinone and an analogue of methenmadinone acetate. In addition to MMA, analogues of MMC include chlormadinone caproate, gestonorone caproate, hydroxyprogesterone caproate, medroxyprogesterone caproate, and megestrol caproate.
Chlormadinone caproate (CMC) is a progestin and a progestogen ester which was studied for potential use in combined injectable contraceptives but was never marketed. It was assessed in combination with estradiol valerate at doses of 80 mg and 3 mg, respectively. In addition to chlormadinone acetate (CMA), analogues of CMC include gestonorone caproate, hydroxyprogesterone caproate, medroxyprogesterone caproate, megestrol caproate, and methenmadinone caproate.
Estradiol undecylate/norethisterone enanthate (EU/NETE) is a combination medication of estradiol undecylate (EU), an estrogen, and norethisterone enanthate (NETE), a progestin, which was developed by Schering for potential use as a combined injectable contraceptive in women but was ultimately never marketed. It contained 5 to 10 mg EU and 50 to 70 mg NETE in oil solution and was intended for use by intramuscular injection at regular intervals. Although never commercialized, EU/NETE was found to be effective and well tolerated.
Natural estrogens considered here include: [...] Esters of 17β-estradiol, such as estradiol valerate, estradiol benzoate and estradiol cypionate. Esterification aims at either better absorption after oral administration or a sustained release from the depot after intramuscular administration. During absorption, the esters are cleaved by endogenous esterases and the pharmacologically active 17β-estradiol is released; therefore, the esters are considered as natural estrogens.
17α-Hydroxyprogesterone caproate is a depot progestogen which is entirely free of side actions. The dose required to induce secretory changes in primed endometrium is about 250 mg. per menstrual cycle.
The results showed that after injection the concentration of plasma MA increased rapidly. The meantime of peak plasma MA level was 3rd day, there was a linear relationship between log of plasma MA concentration and time (day) after administration in all subjects, elimination phase half-life t1/2β = 14.35 ± 9.1 days.
Entre los anovulatorios más usados están los siguientes: Prolestrín, Sequens, Anovlar, Sequentex, Orlex, Ginovlar, Enginón, Perlutal, Depo-proveda, Aconcén, Ovral, Retex, Lorophyn y otros menos solicitados.