Objective: To evaluate vaginal bleeding patterns, side-effects, and acceptability between desogestrel and lynestrenol as a post-partum oral contraception.

Material and Method: The prospective open-labelled, randomized controlled trial was conducted in postpartum women at the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand. The inclusion criteria were 6-month breast feeding women, previous regular menses, body mass index (BMI) of less than 28.5 kg/m2 and no contra-indications for progestogen only pills usage. Each woman was randomly assigned to either lynestrenol 500 mcg/day or desogestrel 75 mcg/day. Vaginal bleeding patterns, side-effects, and acceptability were compared at 3- and 6-month.

Results: Forty-five women were enrolled. Unscheduled bleeding was not different between the groups at 3- and 6-month. The other side effects e.g., acne, breast engorgement, headache, and nausea were not different between the groups at 3- and 6-month. The acceptability was higher in desogestrel group than lynestrenol group at 6-month (43.5% vs. 22.7%, p = 0.004).

Conclusion: Unscheduled bleeding and side effects were not different. However, acceptability at 6-month was higher in desogestrel group. Both drugs can be safely used as postpartum oral contraception.

Keywords: Desogestrel, Lynestrenol, Vaginal bleeding, Side effects, Acceptability, Postpartum oral contraception