Search PubMed⌕ Search

SEARCH · Search PubMed

Results for “CONTRACEPTIVES”

Search indexed PubMed citations on genomics, clinical trials, systematic reviews and public health. Explore titles, authors and supplied subject terms, then open the PubMed record.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 1,693 records · Page 94Linked to original sources

Phasic approach to oral contraceptives.

Oral contraceptives were initially very high in estrogen and progestogen and had a uniform dosage schedule throughout the entire cycle. These early oral contraceptives were associated with high rates of side effects and complications. As a result, the hormone levels have been gradually reduced to attain the minimal amount necessary for contraception while most of the undesired side effects and complications have been eliminated. Recently, a new approach has been added. This mechanism consists of altering the dose of estrogen or progestogen or both during the month and is referred to as the phasic approach. The newest phasic pills now use a triphasic approach. Three basic formulations of the triphasic pill have been developed. In two of the three formulations, the progestogen level is altered, whereas the estrogen level remains stable; in the third formulation, both estrogen and progestogen are changed. Multiple clinical studies of the triphasics, such as ethinyl estradiol and levonorgestrel, prove that there is a significant reduction in the incidence of side effects and complications related to oral contraception.

Contraceptives, Oral, Combined↗

Knowledge and use of hormonal emergency contraception in Finland.

We studied the knowledge and use of hormonal emergency contraception (EC) in Finland by mailing a questionnaire to a national sample of 3000 women aged 18-44 years (response rate 74%). Ten percent of the women aged under 25 and 4% of all respondents had sometimes used EC. Unmarried women were more likely to report having used hormonal EC than were married women, and nulliparous women reported more use than did parous women. However, no statistically significant difference in EC use among women with or without previous abortion history was observed. Older women were less aware of EC than of other methods; only one-third of the women aged over 35 knew about this method. Current contraceptive practices were otherwise similar among ever-users and never-users of EC, but EC users more commonly reported using condom together with oral contraceptives or IUD. Nobody reported using EC as her only contraceptive method. Our findings suggest that EC is appropriately used in Finland, but more information about use of the method is still needed.

Abortion, Induced↗

Oral contraceptives and cardiovascular risk. Taking a safe course of action.

Although a prospective, longitudinal study on the long-term cardiovascular effects of oral contraceptives has yet to be performed, available data are useful in determining a safe course of action while physicians await definitive answers. Exogenous sex steroids produce important effects on lipid metabolism. Early intervention against cholesterol is important in reducing cardiovascular risk. Current users of high-dose formulations, particularly older women who smoke, are at greatest risk for cardiovascular complications, especially myocardial infarction. Low-dose oral contraceptives have more modest effects on lipid metabolism, but important differences in the potency of progestins remain. Fortunately, recent studies among users of lower-dose oral contraceptive formulations fail to show an increase in cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Nonetheless, prudent physicians will avoid oral contraceptives that may adversely affect lipoprotein metabolism, such as those containing progestins with high androgenic and antiestrogenic potency.

Cardiovascular Diseases↗

Effect of oral contraceptives on composition and volume of breast milk.

Nitrogen and protein composition was determined in milk from women using oral contraceptives during lactation. Total nitrogen and nonprotein nitrogen as well as lactose and the individual milk proteins lactoferrin, alpha-lactalbumin, and serum albumin were analyzed before introduction of oral contraceptives and thereafter throughout the lactation period. Twenty-four hour milk volumes were registered by weighing the infant before and after each feeding. The four oral contraceptives used consisted of different combinations of d-norgestrel, megestrolacetate, and ethinylestradiol. Significant changes were observed between groups and controls for all parameters studied. However, the changes observed were generally within the physiological variation of normal breast milk. It is suggested that the use of oral contraceptives during lactation should be limited.

Contraceptives, Oral↗

Possible interaction between oxcarbazepine and an oral contraceptive.

The effect of oxcarbazepine (OCBZ) on the kinetics of an oral contraceptive containing ethinyloestradiol (EE) and levonorgestrel (LNG) was investigated in 13 healthy female volunteers who had previously received the contraceptive for at least 3 months. After 15 days of the first study cycle, each subject received, in addition to the oral contraceptive, 300 mg OCBZ on day 16, 300 mg twice daily on day 17, and 300 mg three times daily from day 18 of the first cycle to day 18 of the next menstrual cycle. The area under the curve values for both EE and LNG decreased when OCBZ was given with the oral contraceptive (p = 0.006, analysis of variance). The results indicate that OCBZ, like most antiepileptic drugs (AEDs), decreases the bioavailability of EE and LNG, perhaps by affecting metabolism or protein binding.

Adult↗

Side and site of deep vein thrombosis in women using oral contraceptives.

The anatomy of the thrombus in acute deep vein thrombosis (DVT) in women using oral contraceptives was studied in 277 reports on DVT received by the Swedish Adverse Drug Reaction Advisory Committee (SADRAC). The study revealed a similarity between the anatomy of DVT in women on oral contraceptives and that of DVT in pregnant women, suggesting a pharmacologic influence of the hormones in the pill on the pathogenesis of DVT in women on oral contraceptives. The anatomy of DVT in women on low-estrogen pills was identical with that of DVT in women on high-estrogen pills, suggesting an identical pharmacologic influence of the two types of pill on the pathogenesis of DVT in women on oral contraceptives.

Adolescent↗

The androgenicity of oral contraceptives: the young patient's concerns.

Sexual activity is quite common among women aged 14 to 20 in developed countries, averaging perhaps 10% at age 15 to about 70% at 19. Thus, the need for contraception may begin quite early in life and will continue for as long as 30 years. One of the best candidates for long-term contraception for young sexually active females is the oral contraceptive (OC), which provides health benefits besides contraception. Long-term benefits include lowered rates of ovarian and endometrial cancer, as well as of benign breast disease and ovarian cysts. Another benefit is protection against upper-tract sequelae of sexually transmitted diseases. Short-term benefits are correction of menstrual irregularity, reduction in menstrual flow, and diminished premenstrual syndrome and dysmenorrhea. Recent OC formulations contain only one-third the estrogenic potency of older OCs and therefore are associated with dramatic decreases in what were always the major side effects of OCs: heart attack, stroke, and pulmonary embolism. Other side effects of OCs have been most closely associated with the progestogenic component, and are related to the androgenic effects of progestins, particularly some synthetic progestins. However, some new synthetic progestins have been found to have minimal androgen receptor activity in preclinical testing and to cause minimal or no androgen-related side effects in clinical trials. One of these new progestins having a favorable androgenic profile is norgestimate. Its efficacy and safety in combination with low doses of ethinyl estradiol have been documented in the European and the American literature.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Acne Vulgaris↗

New concepts in oral contraceptive pill use.

Over 30 years have elapsed since the introduction of the combination oral contraceptive pill. During this time, the estrogen and progestogen components of the pill have been reduced 80% and 90%, respectively. An improved understanding of the mechanisms involved in the metabolism of the oral contraceptive pill steroids now exists that allows us to better understand interactions of the pill with other drugs and medications. In an effort to reduce adverse reactions to the oral contraceptive pill, new progestogens have been developed for contraceptive pills soon to become commercially available. These issues as well as the concept of the pill-free interval are discussed in this review.

Contraceptives, Oral, Synthetic↗

Incidence of breakthrough bleeding during oral contraceptive therapy.

A phase IV, open-label, multicenter survey of 983 obstetrician-gynecologists was conducted to evaluate the incidence of intermenstrual bleeding in 6,382 women receiving a low-dose monophasic oral contraceptive, ethynodiol diacetate, 1 mg, with ethinyl estradiol, 35 micrograms (EDA 1 mg with EE 35 micrograms) over a six-month period. Most patients (75%) did not experience intermenstrual bleeding during therapy. Follow-up questionnaires were sent to the physicians of the 1,526 women reporting breakthrough bleeding or spotting; 1,027 follow-up questionnaires (67%) were returned. The questionnaires revealed that approximately one-fifth of the patients were placed on EDA 1 mg with EE 35 micrograms to regulate preexisting bleeding; of them, 71% reported an improvement, 13% reported worsening, and 16% reported no change in their cycle regularity. Most breakthrough bleeding or spotting (91%) occurred in the first three months of therapy in women with preexisting irregular bleeding as well as in those using the oral contraceptive solely for birth control. Although a fair proportion of women experienced intermenstrual bleeding, very few (5.1%) discontinued therapy because of it. Thus, the study demonstrated that the incidence of breakthrough bleeding and spotting appears to be within or below the range reported for other monophasic and multiphasic oral contraceptives. Further, in agreement with previously published reports, the data suggest that cycle control will improve after three months of oral contraceptive use.

Contraceptives, Oral, Hormonal↗

The relationship between vascular headaches and low-dose oral contraceptives.

The relationship between migraineous headaches and the use of low-dose oral contraceptives, the monophasic Rigevidon and the biphasic Anteovin, has been examined. In the examined cases Anteovin of higher oestrogen content provoked more vascular cephalalgias than Rigevidon with it's lower oestrogen content. In one part of the cases both pills even had therapeutic effects. According to the opinion of the author classical migraine means a relative contra-indication of hormonal contraception and is a serious adverse effect requiring the discontinuance of oral contraception. The headaches develop during the adaptational period of oral contraception and the migraineous attacks occur in the premenstrual period or at the beginning of menstruation which refer to an oestrogen withdrawal character. It may be supposed that vasoconstriction of certain extent, which has existed during the use of the pills, changes over to relative vasodilatation in this period and the extent of the changes is dependent on the oestreogen content of the tablets.

Contraceptives, Oral, Hormonal↗

Alternate delivery systems for contraceptive progestogens.

Research continues toward developing an universally acceptable, safe, and effective contraceptive to inhibit the female reproductive process. Progestational systems, either alone or in combination with small amounts of estrogen, approach such an ideal. The pregnane and 19-nortestosterone progestins were examined in this review with regard to contraceptive mechanisms of action and major side effects, such as menstrual abnormalities, metabolic changes, neoplasia, and teratogenicity. These steroids provide highly effective and long-acting contraception, and bypass the oral route of administration, resulting in fewer gastrointestinal and systemic side effects. Data regarding the lack of a deleterious effect of contraceptive progestogens on fetal malformation or cancer of the breast and genital tract reinforce their safety. Further study and refinement are needed, however, to lower the incidence of menstrual abnormalities, hypertension, and detrimental lipid alterations prior to approval for general use.

Abnormalities, Drug-Induced↗

Contraceptive use-effectiveness and the American adolescent.

Contraceptive use-effectiveness is significantly shaped by the contraceptors' ages, for pregnancy rates are found to be a function of age. Teenagers are more failure prone than older contracepting women, regardless of method. This higher teenage failure rate can indicate clearly the use-effectiveness of various contraceptive methods. Consequently, both user and method (whether modern or traditional) determine outcome levels of contraceptive use-effectiveness.

Abortion, Induced↗

Expanding access to emergency contraception in developing countries.

Emergency contraception has been called the best-kept contraceptive secret. Previous research shows that several regimens of postcoital contraception offer safe and effective ways for women to avoid pregnancy. Yet the methods are typically unavailable to women in developing countries. In this article, the authors review the main methods of emergency contraception and describe experience with them to date. The prevalence and urgency of the need for making these methods available to women in developing countries are assessed. The necessary elements for creating such access are described. In several developing countries, conditions for introducing the methods may be more favorable than in industrialized countries. These advantages are reviewed. Finally, the authors describe the challenges anticipated for broadening the availability of postcoital methods in the developing world. They conclude with a brief series of recommendations for policymakers.

Contraceptives, Postcoital↗

[Current monophasic hormonal contraception].

Data are presented from an investigation of the use of monophasic contraceptive pills chosen by different age groups. Analyses are made of the data obtained from the Bulgarian Association for Family Planning (BAFP) card index for the last two years. Information is given on the number of observed cycles, type of applied contraceptive pill, aims of their application (contraception, treatment of acne, menstrual disturbances etc.), age of patients, as well as any possible adverse effects--change in blood pressure, bodyweight changes, intermenstrual bleeding, hairiness, breast problems, paraclinical changes, etc. The observed cycles show a very small percentage of adverse effects with hormonal contraception, mainly during the first 2 or 3 cycles, with predominance of intermenstrual bleeding. No bodyweight changes or increased hairiness were observed.

Adolescent↗

Oral contraceptives and breast disease in premenopausal Northern Albertan women.

The results of a prospective study on oral contraceptive use and breast disease in northern Alberta are presented. The study groups comprised all women aged 30 to 49 examined in diagnostic breast clinics at the Cross Cancer Institute between 1971 and 1974. Three hundred and one patients had breast cancer, 692 had a subsequent biopsy for a benign breast condition, and 548 had no subsequent biopsy. A tendency for an increased relative risk (RR) of breast cancer in women taking oral contraceptives for periods of 1 to 5 years was evident, with relative risk decreased or unaffected in users of less than 12 months (RR = 0.6) or more than 5 years (RR = 1.0). A slightly increased risk was apparent in patients using oral contraceptives within a year prior to attendance at the clinic (recent users); this increase was emphasized when recent users with a prior biopsy for benign breast disease were analyzed alone (RR = 5.0). In women with a prior breast biopsy, use of oral contraceptives for more than 5 years increased risk of breast cancer nine-fold. Former users who had taken oral contraceptives for less than a year showed a significant reduction in breast cancer risk (RR = 0.3). The risk of benign breast disease was also reduced in former users (RR = 0.6) as well as in long-term users (RR = 0.5).

Adult↗

Doxylamine and diphenhydramine pharmacokinetics in women on low-dose estrogen oral contraceptives.

Thirteen women chronically using low-dose estrogen-containing oral contraceptives (50 micrograms or less of ethinyl estradiol or its equivalent for a minimum of 3 months) and 12 age-matched drug-free control women received a single 25 mg oral dose of doxylamine succinate in the fasting state. Ten women taking oral contraceptives and ten controls received a single 50 mg oral dose of diphenhydramine hydrochloride. Multiple plasma samples drawn during 30 hours following the dose of doxylamine, and 12 hours after diphenhydramine dosage, were analyzed by gas chromatography using nitrogen-phosphorus detection. Mean pharmacokinetic variables for doxylamine in control and oral contraceptive groups were: peak plasma concentration, 103 vs 100 ng/ml; time of peak, 2.40 vs 1.87 hours after dosage, elimination half-life, 10.1 vs 10.2 hours; and total clearance, 3.70 vs 3.88 ml/min/kg. Mean pharmacokinetic variables for diphenhydramine in control and oral contraceptive groups were: peak plasma concentration, 63.7 vs 73.8 ng/ml; time of peak, 2.7 vs 2.2 hours after dosage; elimination half-life, 6.0 vs 5.1 hours; and total clearance, 21.8 vs 25.5 ml/min/kg. None of these differences were statistically significant. Thus, low-dose estrogen-containing oral contraceptives do not significantly influence the pharmacokinetics of the antihistamines doxylamine or diphenhydramine.

Adult↗

Oral contraceptive use and the risk of type 2 (non-insulin-dependent) diabetes mellitus in a large prospective study of women.

We examined the association between oral contraceptive use and incidence of Type 2 (non-insulin-dependent) diabetes mellitus among 115117 female nurses free of diabetes, cardiovascular disease and cancer in 1976 and followed-up for 12 years. During 1237440 person years of follow-up, 2276 women who provided information on oral contraceptive use were clinically diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes. Women who used oral contraceptives in the past had only a slight and marginally increased relative risk of 1.10 (95% confidence interval 1.01, 1.21) compared to those women who had never used oral contraceptives after controlling for known risk factors of disease. We found no evidence of increased risk with longer duration of use or with shorter interval since last use. Current users did not have an increased risk of Type 2 diabetes (relative risk = 0.86, 95% confidence interval 0.46, 1.61) when compared to women who had never used the drug. There was no effect modification by obesity, family history of diabetes, or physical activity. These data suggest that past or current oral contraceptive use does not substantially influence subsequent risk of Type 2 diabetes.

Adult↗

Teratogenic hazards of oral contraceptives analyzed in a national malformation register.

During the period 1967-1976, prospectively collected data were available in the Finnish Register of Congenital Malformations on the contraceptive usage of 3,002 mothers of children with malformations detected at birth, as well as of time-matched and place-matched control mothers. The distributions of the various types of malformations were similar among contraceptive users (immediately prior to or during the pregnancy) and nonusers. The total incidences of various methods of contraception were also similar among mothers of malformed children and the control mothers. The risk ratio method for matched pairs allowed us to evaluate the strength of the observed negative correlation concerning oral contraceptives. Thus, we could exclude with 95% confidence any effect larger than 5% of oral contraceptives on the incidence of visible malformations.

Abnormalities, Drug-Induced↗