Objectives: To compare continuation rates, bleeding and satisfaction of E2V/DNG versus POP within the first year of use after direct switch from EE-containing COCs.

Methods: The CONTENT study was a prospective, non-interventional, observational trial conducted between October 2010 and March 2014 at 375 centers in 11 countries: Czech Republic, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Israel, Italy, Russian Federation, Slovakia, Sweden, and United Kingdom. N=2558 women in the E2V/DNG group and n=592 in the POP group were included for a follow-up of up to one year. Women were eligible if EE-containing COC use took longer than 3 months, before direct switch to either E2V/DNG or POP.

Results: Time to discontinuation due to bleeding (p<0.0001) or other reasons (p=0.022) were both significantly longer in the E2V/DNG group versus the POP group. The E2V/DNG COC was also associated with shorter (48.7% vs. 44.1%), lighter (54% vs. 46.1%), and less painful bleeding (91.1% vs. 73.7%), and greater user satisfaction (80.7% vs. 64.6%) than POP use, already within the first 3 to 5 months after switch from the previously taken COC. Women’s satisfaction rate was consistently higher in the E2V/DNG group, independent of age (satisfaction rate of women aged 18 - 25 years: E2V/DNG 79.4% vs POP 65.0%, 26 – 34 years: 81.0% vs 63.3%, 35 – 50 years: 87.2% vs. 64.7%, respectively).

Conclusions: The E2V/DNG COC was associated with higher rates of continuation, bleeding profile acceptability and user satisfaction than POP use and may be an alternative option for women who are dissatisfied with their current COC.