Drospirenone -: Contraceptive, hormone replacement therapy -: Aldosterone antagonist progestogen

Drospirenone is a synthetic steroid that closely mimics the natural steroid progesterone in its spectrum of activity. Drospirenone regulates ovulation via its action as a progestogen agonist but also has antiandrogenic and antimineralocorticoid properties. These result in increased sodium and water excretion, thus leading to reduced fluid retention and less effect on body weight. The antiandrogenic effects result in a reduction of sebaceous gland activity and provide for a suppression of contraceptive side effects such as acne. Drospirenone has no adverse effects on blood pressure or plasma lipid levels and is clinically well tolerated given alone or formulated with the estrogen ethinylestradiol. The combination of these two agents provides a well-tolerated and effective oral contraceptive. Yasmin® was approved in The Netherlands in March 2000 for use in oral contraception and since then has received approval from all E.U. member countries as well as Iceland and Norway. The oral contraceptive was launched for the first time by Schering AG in Germany in November 2000. Yasmin® contains 30 μg of the estrogen ethinylestradiol and 3 mg of the progestogen drospirenone, to be taken on a 21-day schedule.