AGE-ASSOCIATED EFFICACY OF LOW-DOSE COMBINED ORAL CONTRACEPTIVES IN THE CORRECTION OF DYSMENORRHEA: RESULTS OF A PROSPECTIVE COMPARATIVE STUDY

Timofeev Ilya Alexandrovich, Ponomarev Vladislav Viktorovich, Artyushkov Viktor Valerievich, Glashev Denis

This study is devoted to the assessment of age-related characteristics of the effectiveness of low-dose combined oral contraceptives (COCs) in the correction of dysmenorrhea. Aim: To evaluate the age-dependent efficacy of low-dose combined oral contraceptives (COCs) compared to NSAIDs in women with dysmenorrhea. Materials and methods: A prospective randomized trial included 500 patients (COC group – 350, control – 150). Pain intensity was measured using VAS and SF-36. Results: COC group showed 62% pain reduction in women aged 18–25 (p < 0.001), vs. 31% in the control group (p < 0.05). No significant difference was found in the 36–45 subgroup (p = 0.18). Conclusion: The results showed that younger women (18–25 years) experienced a more pronounced reduction in pain and improvement in general condition compared to women in older age groups. In women over 35 years of age, the therapeutic effect was less pronounced, which may be due to age-related changes in hormonal levels and metabolic characteristics. The obtained data emphasize the need for an individualized approach to the treatment of dysmenorrhea, taking into account age factors, to increase its effectiveness and patient comfort.

Keywords:dysmenorrhea combined oral contraceptives, age-related differences, randomized trial, pain management