Desogestrel versus gestodene in oral contraceptives: influence on the clinical and histomorphological features of benign breast disease.

Forty-four female volunteers asking for oral contraception, affected by symptomatic benign breast disease (BBD) were evaluated to compare the effects on mastalgia and breast nodularity of two different low dose oral contraceptives (OCs), containing 20 micrograms [corrected] ethinylestradiol + 150 micrograms desogestrel (EE+D) and 30 micrograms ethinylestradiol + 75 micrograms gestodene (EE+G), respectively. Physical examination, bilateral thermography, X-ray and/or ultrasonography of breast, and needle and screw-needle biopsies of mammary tissue were performed in all patients before OCs administration and after six cycles of treatment. OCs administration caused an overall improvement of mastalgia in 53%. Breast nodularity improved only in 8% of patients in both groups. Epithelial tissue modifications in mammary biopsies were observed, with involutive and/or secretory histomorphological and ultrastructural changes, frequently coexisting in different areas of the same breast.