22 February 2026 : Review article
Comparison of Substances in Combined Oral Contraceptives Used in Acne Vulgaris, Hirsutism, Migraine, and Dysmenorrhea
Patrycja Wójcikiewicz
ABCDEF 1*, Gabriela Durlej BCDEF 1, Małgorzata Satora BCDEF 1, Rafał Tarkowski AE 2, Krzysztof Kułak AEFG 2
DOI: 10.12659/MSM.949520
Med Sci Monit 2026; 32:e949520
Table 4 Summary of studies describing the effect of hormones on the risk of dysmenorrhea with different combined oral contraceptive pills.
| Study | Year of study | Research group | Substance and a dose | Main findings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Momoeda et al []19 | 2020 | 531 Japanese patients with primary dysmenorrhea, of whom 186 were evaluated after treatment | 20 μgEE 3 mg DRSP | The physical, social, and psychological aspects of life significantly improved after a cyclic regimen of EE/DRSP in Japanese patients suffering from dysmenorrhea |
| Strowitzki et al []20 | 2012 | Women (number of patients is unknown) aged 18–40 with moderate to severe primary dysmenorrhea (moderate to severe pelvic pain associated with menstruation for at least four out of the past six cycles) | 20 μgEE 3 mg DRSP | Compared to the conventional regimen of EE/DRSP, the flexible, extended regimen was associated with better relief of symptoms related to menstrual pain and fewer days of menstrual pain in women with moderate to severe primary dysmenorrhea |
| Lalos & Joelsson et al []21 | 1981 | 5 women aged 17–25 with severe primary dysmenorrhea. | 50 μgEE 1 mg lynestrenol | COC reduces the intensity of uterine muscle tension during menstruation, consequently alleviating pain symptoms |
| DSG – desogestrel; EE – ethinylestradiol; COC – combined oral contraceptive; LNG – levonorgestrel; DRSP – drospirenone. | ||||