Body composition and psychological improvement in healthy premenopausal women assuming the oral contraceptive containing micronized estradiol (E2) and nomegestrol acetate (NOMAC)

This observational study was conducted in healthy premenopausal women, who presented themselves for contraceptive advice at the outpatient Family Planning Clinics of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology of the University of Cagliari, Hospital–University of Cagliari (Italy). After a screening period of three menstrual cycles, 48 women without contraindications to estroprogestin contraceptives (OCs) were included in the study. The primary purposes of the study were to evaluate whether a 12-month-treatment with the combined OC containing micronized estradiol (1.5 mg, E2) plus nomegestrol acetate (2.5 mg, NOMAC) (E2/NOMAC) interfere on anthropometric indices (AI), body composition (BC) and psychological status (PS). In subjects with dysmenorrhea (#36), its intensity was evaluated using the visuo analogic scale (VAS), both before and during the 12-month-treatment with E2/NOMAC. E2/NOMAC did not modify neither AI nor BC in the 40 subjects who concluded the study. The PS and the VAS of dysmenorrhea were significantly (p < 0.0001) improved from the first cycle of treatment and throughout the E2/NOMAC treatment in comparison with basal values. The study suggests that E2/NOMAC is devoid of negative effects on AI and BC, with additional benefits on PS and dysmenorrhea.