Bayer Launches First Oral Contraceptive to Treat Heavy Menstrual Bleeding (HMB)

Bayer HealthCare Pharmaceuticals recently launched an oral contraceptive estradiol valerate/dienogest (Qlaira®) which significantly reduces heavy menstrual bleeding (HMB).

Estradiol valerate/dienogest (Qlaira®), a combined oral contraceptive, has been approved for the treatment of HMB in women without organic pathology who desire an oral contraceptive as their method of birth control.

Estradiol valerate/dienogest (Qlaira®) is the first oral contraceptive to treat HMB, providing women with a non-invasive, short-acting treatment that preserves their reproductive health. It is also the first in a new class of oral contraceptives to deliver estradiol, the same estrogen produced by a woman’s body.

Clinical trials show that Estradiol valerate/dienogest (Qlaira®) reduces menstrual bleeding by 88 percent after six months of treatment versus baseline. Reduction in HMB is a class effect; however oral contraceptives are typically known to reduce menstrual bleeding by 35-43%.

It is estimated that up to 52 percent of women experience HMB at some point in their lives. In clinical practices, the prevalence of HMB is likely to be underestimated as only a minority of women seek medical advice for this condition.