Gestodene

Gestodene

Systematic (IUPAC) name
(8R,9S,10R,13S,14S,17R)-13-Ethyl-17-ethynyl-17-hydroxy-1,2,6,7,8,9,10,11,12,14-decahydrocyclopenta[a]phenanthren-3-one
Clinical data
AHFS/Drugs.com	International Drug Names
Pregnancy cat.	X
Legal status	℞ Prescription only
Routes	oral administration
Pharmacokinetic data
Bioavailability	in vitro 99% using 3H=R5020 / in vivo similar to progesterone
Half-life	16 to 18 hrs.
Excretion	urinary tract mainly
Identifiers
CAS number	60282-87-3 Y
ATC code	G03AA10 G03AB06 (only combinations with estrogens)
PubChem	CID 3033968
DrugBank	DB06730
ChemSpider	2298532 Y
UNII	1664P6E6MI Y
KEGG	D04316 Y
ChEMBL	CHEMBL1213583 Y
Chemical data
Formula	C21H26O2
Mol. mass	310.430 g/mol
SMILES O=C4\C=C3/[C@@H]([C@H]2CC[C@]1([C@@H](/C=C\[C@]1(C#C)O)[C@@H]2CC3)CC)CC4
InChI InChI=1S/C21H26O2/c1-3-20-11-9-17-16-8-6-15(22)13-14(16)5-7-18(17)19(20)10-12-21(20,23)4-2/h2,10,12-13,16-19,23H,3,5-9,11H2,1H3/t16-,17+,18+,19-,20-,21-/m0/s1 Y Key:SIGSPDASOTUPFS-XUDSTZEESA-N Y
Y (what is this?)  (verify)

Gestodene is a progestogen hormonal contraceptive. Products containing gestodene include:

• Melodene-15, Mirelle, and Minesse which contain 15 mcg of ethinylestradiol and 60 mcg of gestodene;
• Meliane, Sunya, Femodette, and Millinette 20/75 which contain 20 mcg of ethinylestradiol and 75 mcg of gestodene; and
• Gynera, Minulet, Femoden, Femodene, Katya and Millinette 30/75 which contain 30 mcg of ethinylestradiol and 75 mcg of gestodene.^[1]

Benefits

Gestodene is androgenically neutral, meaning that contraceptive pills containing gestodene do not exhibit the androgenic side effects (e.g. acne, hirsutism, weight gain) often associated with second-generation contraceptive pills, such as those containing levonorgestrel.^[2]

The synthetic estrogen dosage in third-generation contraceptive pills (including those containing gestodene) is lower than that in second-generation oral contraceptives, reducing the likelihood of weight gain, breast tenderness and migraine.^[3]

Third-generation oral contraceptives are also suitable for use in patients with diabetes or lipid disorders because they have minimal impact on blood glucose levels and the lipid profile.^[4]

Adverse effects

Women who take oral contraceptives containing gestodene are 5.6 times as likely to develop thromboembolism than women who do not take any contraceptive pill, and 1.6 times as likely to develop thromboembolism compared to women taking oral contraceptives containing levonorgestrel.^[5]

Footnotes

See also

• Progestin