Desogestrel

Desogestrel

Systematic (IUPAC) name
13-ethyl-17-ethynyl- 11-methylidene- 1,2,3,6,7,8,9,10,12,13,14,15, 16,17- tetradecahydrocyclopenta[a] phenanthren-17-ol
Clinical data
AHFS/Drugs.com	Micromedex Detailed Consumer Information
MedlinePlus	a601050
Pregnancy cat.	?
Legal status	?
Pharmacokinetic data
Protein binding	98.3%
Identifiers
CAS number	54024-22-5 Y
ATC code	G03AC09
PubChem	CID 40973
DrugBank	APRD00762
ChemSpider	37400 Y
UNII	81K9V7M3A3 Y
KEGG	D02367 Y
ChEBI	CHEBI:4453 Y
ChEMBL	CHEMBL1533 Y
Chemical data
Formula	C22H30O
Mol. mass	310.473 g/mol
SMILES	eMolecules & PubChem
InChI InChI=1S/C22H30O/c1-4-21-14-15(3)20-17-9-7-6-8-16(17)10-11-18(20)19(21)12-13-22(21,23)5-2/h2,8,17-20,23H,3-4,6-7,9-14H2,1H3/t17-,18-,19-,20+,21-,22-/m0/s1 Y Key:RPLCPCMSCLEKRS-BPIQYHPVSA-N Y
N(what is this?)  (verify)

Desogestrel is a molecule used in hormonal contraceptives.

Benefits

Third-generation oral contraceptives are suitable for use in patients with diabetes or lipid disorders because they have minimal impact on blood glucose levels and the lipid profile. Their synthetic estrogen dosage is lower than second-generation oral contraceptives, reducing the likelihood of weight gain, breast tenderness and migraine.

Controversy

In February 2007, the consumer advocacy group Public Citizen released a petition requesting that the FDA ban oral contraceptives containing desogestrel, citing studies going as far back as 1995 that suggest the risk of dangerous blood clots is doubled for women on such pills in comparison to other oral contraceptives. In 2009, Public Citizen released a list of recommendations that included numerous alternative, second-generation birth control pills that women could take in place of oral contraceptives containing desogestrel. Most of those second-generation medications have been on the market longer and have been shown to be as effective in preventing unwanted pregnancy, but with a lower risk of blood clots.

Most combined oral contraceptive pills (COCPs, or simply OCs) on the market today contain both an estrogen compound (ethinyl estradiol is common) plus a progestin (a progesterone-like compound) such as desogestrel.

As such, desogestrel-containing birth control pills are sometimes referred to as "third generation" oral contraceptives. Drugs cited specifically in the petition include Apri-28, Cyclessa, Desogen, Kariva, Mircette, Ortho-Cept, Reclipsen, Velivet and some generic pills. Birth control pills that are considered "second generation" (Tri-Levlen, for example) contain an estrogen and a progestin, but the progestin is different, such as levonorgestrel.

See also

• Progestin

References

• Public Citizen’s Health Research Group: Petition to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to Ban Third Generation Oral Contraceptives Containing Desogestrel due to Increased Risk of Venous Thrombosis HRG Publication #1799, 2007
• Dr Lisa E. More, ClotCare.com: Should 3rd generation be banned? 2007
• Public Citizen Think Twice About Third-Generation Oral Contraceptives and YASMIN Worst Pills, Best Pills, December, 2009