A contraceptive pill that promises to have fewer side effects in women hits the Chilean market

What woman hasn’t been shocked by the giant sheet of instructions that comes with birth control pills? And that’s it The use of this hormonal drug is widely used among Chilean women, not only to protect themselves from unwanted pregnancy, but also to enjoy the benefits of hormones under certain conditions such as endometriosis and polycystic ovaries.

However, headaches, fluid retention, weight gain, acne, spontaneous bleeding and an increased risk of suffering from thrombosis are some of the most common problems. side effects that many women fear.

—The ideal contraceptive does not exist -starts to explain to The third the Spanish gynecologist and president of the Catalan Society of Contraception Josep Perelló, who came to the country to lead the launch of Dravelis a new alternative to the contraceptive pill which promises to be different from those already on the market.

—There is no contraceptive that combines all the attributes that the perfect contraceptive should have: that it is effective, comfortable, safe, that it is well tolerated, that it does not reduce libido and more. This is why we must look for the one that most resembles this ideal. Today it would be Drovelis -he rocks.

But what makes this contraceptive so different? How is it composed? And what is its price in national pharmacies?

To begin explaining this birth control pill, it is important to know that It is a combined: that is to say it contains progestin and estrogen. This last hormone is generally responsible for controlling the cycle, but also for side effects.

At Drovelis, a mixture of estetrol – a natural and very weak estrogen – is used with drospirenone, which is “the most beneficial progestin”. For the expert, it is “a perfect combination, because it does not produce an increased risk of particularly serious side effects”.

—In addition, it will increase user satisfaction because it will allow additional benefits, such as controlling acne, hair in areas where there should not be, seborrhea, which are signs of hyperandrogenism . Water retention, the amount of excessive bleeding and menstrual pain will also be reduced,” adds Perelló.

Many women who choose the combined pill, as a contraceptive method or for certain treatments, notice mood changes, weight gain, headaches, and altered sexual desire (libido).

These symptoms would also be reduced with the “gentle preparation” of this new alternative. “all this with greater safety than the contraceptives we have today.”

—Any woman, unless she has a risk factor that contraindicates it, such as cardiovascular disease or hormone-dependent tumors. . It should be the contraceptive of choice because it has a correct bleeding pattern, good tolerability and an optimal safety profile, explains gynecologist Perelló.

Drovelis is already used in Spain since its launch last year (2022), and According to the doctor, his patients are satisfied, which is reflected in the continuation rates, that is, in not stopping the method suddenly.

The specialist also explains that bleeding from the fourth cycle after the start of treatment is generally “very good”.

— Today, all estrogens present the same thrombotic risk, because there are no studies with sufficient scientific evidence — assures the gynecologist. L.T. .

With this in mind, Drovelis is a new contraceptive on the market and its studies are in pre-marketing, that is, it has been determined that they are safe and well-tolerated drugs and that their characteristics and side effects were identified.

However, according to Perelló, on cardiovascular effects in general, all contraceptive pills – which can cause thrombosis – There are few studies, given the rarity of these phenomena.

-We are talking about Between 1 and 5 in 10,000 women of childbearing age will have a thrombosis. This is something so rare that in a research involving 1,000 or 2,000 women, we are not going to see these events, so no conclusions can be drawn — explains the doctor.

—Today, any woman at risk of cardiovascular disease is contraindicated to estrogens, whatever they may be. — he specifies.

However, Perelló anticipates that a study is being approved to analyze the pill at the European level. However, it is already recognized by the European Medicines Agency (EMA) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

Marcelo Osorio, family planning marketing manager at Gedeon Richter Chile, Drovelis’ pharmaceutical laboratory in the country, assures that the pills can be purchased in pharmacy chains Salcobrand And Green cross .

The price “fluctuates today between $19,990 and $23,000” and pharmacy discounts for frequent customers may be applied.