Ethinylestradiol/drospirenone/prasterone (EE/DRSP/DHEA), known under developmental code names like Androgen Restored Contraceptive (ARC), Female Balance Pill, Pill-Plus, and Triple Oral Contraceptive (Triple OC), is a combination of ethinylestradiol (EE), an estrogen, drospirenone (DRSP), a progestin, antimineralocorticoid, and antiandrogen, and prasterone (dehydroepiandrosterone; DHEA), an androgen prohormone and neurosteroid, which is under development for use as a birth control pill to prevent pregnancy in women.[1] Clinical studies of this formulation have been conducted and published.[2][3][4][5][6][7] Estrogens and progestogens suppress testosterone levels in women, and the addition of 50 mg prasterone, an oralprohormone of testosterone, has been found to restore total testosterone levels to normal levels.[3][4][6] However, free testosterone levels, although higher with the addition of prasterone, remain significantly lower than usual despite prasterone inclusion.[3][4][6]
^Zimmerman Y, Wouters W, Coelingh Bennink HJ (June 2013). "The bioequivalence of the contraceptive steroids ethinylestradiol and drospirenone is not affected by co-administration of dehydroepiandrosterone". Eur J Contracept Reprod Health Care. 18 (3): 206–14. doi:10.3109/13625187.2013.777831. PMID23550808. S2CID207523583.
^ abcZimmerman Y, Coelingh Bennink HJ, Wouters W, Ebes F, Fauser BC (December 2013). "The pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of dehydroepiandrosterone during use of an ethinylestradiol- and drospirenone-containing oral contraceptive". Eur J Contracept Reprod Health Care. 18 (6): 489–500. doi:10.3109/13625187.2013.822061. PMID23944295. S2CID27326167.
^ abcZimmerman Y, Foidart JM, Pintiaux A, Minon JM, Fauser BC, Cobey K, Coelingh Bennink HJ (February 2015). "Restoring testosterone levels by adding dehydroepiandrosterone to a drospirenone containing combined oral contraceptive: I. Endocrine effects". Contraception. 91 (2): 127–33. doi:10.1016/j.contraception.2014.11.002. hdl:1893/21273. PMID25604900.
^Zimmerman Y, Foidart JM, Pintiaux A, Minon JM, Fauser BC, Cobey K, Coelingh Bennink HJ (February 2015). "Restoring testosterone levels by adding dehydroepiandrosterone to a drospirenone containing combined oral contraceptive: II. Clinical effects". Contraception. 91 (2): 134–42. doi:10.1016/j.contraception.2014.11.008. hdl:1893/21274. PMID25496917.