Study on Safety and Efficacy of an Oral Contraceptive in Long Cycles

3 cycles of treatment, each cycle comprising 120 days intended treatment with one tablet daily of 20µg ethinyl estradiol as betadex clathrate (EE20) plus 3 mg drospirenone (DRSP) followed by a 4 day tablet-free interval. If 3 consecutive days of bleeding and/or spotting occurred during the 120 day treatment period, a 4 day tablet free interval was advised. The minimum period between 2 tablet free intervals was 24 days. After each 4 day tablet free interval, a new 120 day intended treatment period was to be restarted, resulting in a minimum of 3 and maximum of 13 withdrawal bleeding episodes during one year of treatment.

3 cycles of treatment, each cycle comprising 120 days uninterrupted treatment with one tablet daily of 20µg ethinyl estradiol as betadex clathrate plus 3 mg drospirenone followed by a 4 day tablet free interval, 3 withdrawal bleeding episodes during one year of treatment were expected.

13 cycles of treatment, each cycle comprising an intake of one tablet daily with 24 days of active tablets (20µg ethinyl estradiol as betadex clathrate plus 3 mg drospirenone) followed by 4 days of placebo tablets, 13 withdrawal bleeding episodes during one year of treatment were expected.