A New Pill That Fits Well with Women’s Hormones

CariReporter

A New Pill That Fits Well with Women’s Hormones

ZOELY® – An oral contraceptive made from hormones structurally similar to her own

Malaysian women can now look forward to a ‘pill’ that is almost as similar to the hormones produced by their own bodies. MSD, one of the leading healthcare companies today announced the availability of ZOELY® (Nomegestrol acetate 2.5mg / oestradiol 1.5mg), a new combined oral contraceptive pill.

ZOELY® contains two active substances—17-beta oestradiol (an oestrogen) and nomegestrol acetate (a progestogen). 17-beta oestradiol (E2) is structurally identical to endogenous oestrogen, a hormone produced naturally by the ovaries during a menstrual cycle. Nomegestrol acetate is a highly selective progestin derived from the hormone progesterone.

Research has consistently shown that women have two major concerns when choosing a contraceptive method—its effectiveness and lack of unwanted side effects1. ZOELY® is proven to be more than 99% effective in preventing pregnancy when used as directed2,5. ZOELY® works by changing the body’s hormonal balance to prevent ovulation. Its secondary mode of action works by altering the cervical mucus and thinning of the endometrium (the lining of the womb) which makes it less favourable for pregnancy to happen9.

The National Demographic and Health Survey in 2004 found that 25 per cent of married women stated they did not want another pregnancy but yet they did not use any form of contraception because of apprehensions of side effects or dissatisfaction with modern contraceptive methods8. Unlike ethinylestradiol, ZOELY®’s oestrogen component is structurally identical to the natural oestrogen produced by women’s ovaries which potentially can be more tolerable for women.

ZOELY® is not only suitable for women who want to start the pill for the first time, but who are re-starting the pill after a contraceptive break, or are considering switching from their current contraception. For those who have not been on any hormonal contraceptive (for the past one month), tablet-taking should start on day 1 of the woman’s natural cycle (i.e. the first day of her menstrual bleeding). When doing so, no additional contraceptive measures are necessary. ZOELY® should be taken daily with some liquid as needed, and in the order as directed on the blister pack2.

“In Malaysia, modern contraceptive usage is still low as only 30% of women within the fertile age group of 15 to 49 years use any form of contraception3. This is one of the lowest rates compared to the western countries. Because of this, a significant number of women end up having unplanned pregnancies,” said Professor Dr. Jamiyah Binti Hassan, an Obstetrics and Gynaecology Consultant, during the launch event.

“This is a very unfortunate situation as most modern contraceptives today can be considered relatively tolerable and effective. With so much misinformation regarding contraception among Malaysian women, many opt for unreliable contraception or use contraceptives incorrectly, thus resulting in unplanned pregnancies. Women should consult their gynaecologist or family practitioner about the various contraceptive options to determine the most appropriate one for them,” added Professor Dr. Jamiyah.

According to Datin Dr Kamaljit Kaur Manocha, an Obstetrics and Gynaecology Consultant who was also present at the event, the choice of a contraceptive depends on the age, health status, lifestyle, and relationship. “Access to family planning enables women to prevent unintended pregnancies and space their pregnancies, thereby reducing deaths during childbirth and the long-term consequences of pregnancy-related problems. Malaysia’s maternal mortality rate, otherwise known as MMR, has progressively declined over the years. In 2008, Malaysia’s MMR was at 27.3 per 100,000 live births4,” said Datin Dr Kamaljit.

Oral hormonal contraceptives, traditionally known as ‘the pill’, have been used since the 1960’s to prevent pregnancies. One of the major concerns using these drugs is the possible increased risk of blood clots, which are mainly attributed to the synthetic oestrogen component, ethinylestradiol.

A clinical study conducted in 2,152 women for 13 cycles on efficacy and tolerability of a monophasic combined oral contraceptive containing nomegestrol acetate (NOMAC) and 17 β-oestradiol (E2) in a 24/4 regimen, in comparison to an oral contraceptive containing ethinylestradiol (DRSP) and drospirenone (EE) in a 21/7 regimen, showed that NOMAC/E2 displayed strong contraceptive efficacy and an acceptable cycle control with short and light periods. NOMAC/E2 was well tolerated and yielded a safety profile that was similar to DRSP/EE5.

ZOELY® comes in a pack containing 28 tablets. Each pill pack starts with 24 white active tablets, followed by 4 yellow placebo tablets. It is recommended that ZOELY® is taken daily and is available at leading pharmacies and designated clinics. Women are advised to consult their doctor before starting on ZOELY®.