Estradiol Pill Research Articles

Envisaging the role of pharmaceutical contaminant 17-β estradiol on growth and lipid productivity of marine diatom Chaetoceros gracilis

In the recent past, the presence of steroid hormones in marine bodies has led to the eruption of endocrine - disrupting molecules which have detrimental effects on aquatic life. However, the resilience and robustness of diatoms to adsorb and grow under the multitude of nutrient stress allow them to utilize the plethora of such compounds. Hence, in this study, we have implemented this unique ability of diatoms to sustain on simulated steroidal wastewater made of estradiol pills and analyze their corresponding impact on growth, biomass production, and lipid synthesis. We hereby report that with an increasing concentration of estradiol (0.5–2.0 mg L−1) there was an increment in cell numbers, and a 1.5-fold increase in the dry cell weight and lipid content (up to 29.5% DW). Thus, culturing Chaetoceros gracilis in the optimized media had a significant impact on biomass productivity which could further promote the untapped potential of diatoms.

POSTER ABSTRACTS: P43 PILOT LABEL COMPREHENSION STUDY FOR AN OVER-THE-COUNTER COMBINED ORAL CONTRACEPTIVE PILL

Objectives: With a panel of experts, we developed a prototype over-the-counter (OTC) Drug Facts Label (DFL) for a combined oral contraception (COC) 0.1mg levonorgestrel/0.02mg ethinyl estradiol pill. The objective of this pilot label comprehension study was to evaluate understanding of our primary communication messages.

Hormonal contraception and breast cancer

The recent Danish cohort study reported a 20% increased risk of breast cancer among current and recent hormonal contraception users. These results are largely consistent with previous studies. This study did not report on stage of disease at diagnosis, and it is not clear to what extent the apparent increased risk may be due to a small advance in the timing of diagnosis. This study did not report on the risk associated with the use of a 20-mcg ethinyl estradiol pill. They did find an increasing risk in current users of longer duration and an increased risk with use of the levonorgestrel intrauterine system—both of these potentially important findings have not been consistently found in previous studies and require further investigation. The breast cancer effects described now in multiple studies wane with time, and in the long term, hormonal contraception use has been found not to be associated with any increased total cancer risk.

Hormonal contraception and breast cancer

The recent Danish cohort study reported a 20% increased risk of breast cancer among current and recent hormonal contraception users. These results are largely consistent with previous studies. This study did not report on stage of disease at diagnosis and it is not clear to what extent the apparent increased risk may be due to a small advance in the timing of diagnosis. This study did not report on the risk associated with the use of a 20-μg ethinyl estradiol pill. They did find an increasing risk in current users of longer duration and an increased risk with use of the levonorgestrel intrauterine system-both of these potentially important findings have not been consistently found in previous studies and require further investigation. The breast cancer effects described now in multiple studies wane with time, and in the long-term hormonal contraception use has been found not to be associated with any increased total cancer risk.

Hyperandrogenism-Insulin Resistance-Acanthosis Nigricans Syndrome.

Introduction. Female hyperandrogenism is a frequent motive of consultation. It is revealed by hirsutism, acne or seborrhea, and disorders in menstruation cycle combined or not with virilisation signs. Several etiologies are incriminated but the hyperandrogenism-insulin resistance-acanthosis nigricans syndrome is rare. Observation. A 20-year-old girl, having had a five-year-old secondary amenorrhea. The exam revealed a patient, normotensive with a body mass index at 30 kg/m2 and a waist measurement of 120 cm, a severe hirsutism assessed to be 29 according to Ferriman Gallwey scale, virilisation signs of male morphotype, clitoridic hypertrophy and frontal alopecia, and an acanthosis nigricans behind the neck, in the armpits and elbows. The assessment carried out revealed testosteronemia at 1.28 ng/mL, which is more than twice the upper norm of the laboratory. Imaging studies were negative for both ovarian and adrenal masses. The retained diagnosis is HAIR-AN syndrome probably related to ovarian hyperthecosis and she was provided with androcur 50 mg/day and estradiol pills 2 mg/day and under hygiene-dietetic conditions. Conclusion. This case proves that HAIR-AN syndrome could be responsible for severe hyperandrogenism with virilisation signs. It must be retained after discarding the tumoral causes and when there are signs of insulin resistance.

Medical hypothesis: can gonadotropins influence thyroid volume in women with PCOS?

It has been reported that luteinizing hormone (LH) had thyropropic effect on rat and human thyroid membrane. It has been known that patients with PCOS have elevated LH levels in comparison to healthy controls.The goiter prevalence is more common in women than in men regardless of population. The higher incidence of thyroid diseases in women has been previously attributed to higher estradiol levels. Estradiol has been shown to enhance proliferative and mitogenic activities of thyroid cells. However, in recent years chronic estradiol treatment has been shown to reduce volume densities of thyroid follicles, follicular epithelium and thyroid gland volume. It is thought to be due to LH suppression.Therefore we suggested that increased LH levels might provide a stimulus for growth on thyroid and alter thyroid function. Therefore patients with PCOS who had elevated LH levels should be treated by combined estradiol pills such as estrogen-progestin contraceptives for suppression of LH secretion. Further studies are needed to evaluate the association between LH, LH suppression and thyroid volume in patients with PCOS.

Evaluation of a new estradiol oral contraceptive: estradiol valerate and dienogest

Importance of the field: Since ethinyl estradiol is a potent activator of hepatic enzymes, the use of natural estradiol (E2) has been studied; but, until recently, bleeding control has hampered development of an E2 pill.Areas covered in this review: A historical review of oral contraceptive development leading to the successful design of an estradiol pill. Pharmacology, mechanism of action and clinical trials of contraceptive efficacy and bleeding profile of the estradiol valerate/dienogest (E2V/DNG) pill are reviewed. Details of two placebo-controlled treatment trials of the E2V/DNG pill in women with heavy menstrual bleeding are discussed. All available literature was searched using pubMed and additional data were obtained from published abstracts.What the reader will gain: Information on the novel features and indications for the E2V/DNG pill.Take home message: The dynamic-dosing E2V/DNG oral contraceptive pill provides a highly effective contraceptive option with an adjusted Pearl Index (method failure) of 0.51 (upper limit of 95% CI 0.97) and unadjusted Pearl Index (user failure) of 1.01 (1.59) for women aged 18 – 35 years. In addition, two large randomized controlled trials have demonstrated that E2V/DNG provides effective treatment for women with heavy menstrual bleeding.

Extended-Cycle Oral Contraceptive Pills with 10 μG Ethinyl Estradiol Pills in Place of Placebo Pills

The elimination of monthly withdrawal bleeding with use of extended-cycle (84 pills) monophasic birth-control pills has modernized oral contraceptives. The use of ethinyl estradiol 10 microg pills in place of the seven placebo pills addresses the problems posed by 21/7 formulations of low-dose birth-control pills, which allow early stimulation of ovarian follicles, and of the early 84/7 formulations, which had higher rates of unscheduled bleeding and spotting.

Estrogen replacement therapy in the management of osteopenia related to eating disorders.

The effect of hormone replacement therapy on the bone mineral content of hypoestrogenic subjects depends on the pathogenesis of the disease as well as on the dosage and route of administration. This is particularly true in hypoestrogenism related to eating disorders. We present a longitudinal study of 26 young women with diet-induced amenorrhea compared with a group of subjects with POF. The study protocol included the quantification of weight loss, the endocrine profile (follicle-stimulating hormone, luteinizing hormone, prolactin, E2, FT3, FT4, thyroid-stimulating hormone, and cortisol), the evaluation of markers of bone turnover (GLA, OSTK-PR, ALP, OHP, and DPYR), and spinal bone density by DEXA at observation and after weight recovery. No hormone replacement therapy was administered. Mean BMD and Z scores before and after recovery do not differ significantly; OHP and DPYR appear significantly higher during basal evaluation, whereas GLA and ALP do not. Data on the impact of oral contraceptive use on bone mineral density are controversial. We particularly discuss the question of long-term treatment with 20 micrograms ethinyl estradiol pills on peak bone mass acquisition during adolescence.

Hormonal treatment for bleeding irregularities in Norplant implant users

OBJECTIVE: Our purpose was to evaluate whether prolonged or irregular bleeding during Norplant implant use could be alleviated with the use of oral hormonal medication. STUDY DESIGN: One hundred fifty users of the Norplant levonorgestrel contraceptive implant with prolonged or frequent bleeding were enrolled in this prospective, randomized, comparative study and assigned to one of three treatment groups for 20 days: ethinyl estradiol 50 μg, an oral contraceptive (50 μg ethinyl estradiol and 250 μg levonorgestrel), and placebo. Total days of bleeding during treatment and length of the bleeding-free interval were analyzed. RESULTS: Women treated with the levonorgestrel - ethinyl estradiol pill bled an average of 2.6 days during treatment compared with 5.4 and 12.3 days in the ethinyl estradiol and placebo groups, respectively. Differences between both hormonal groups and placebo were significant ( p < 0.00001); moreover, the combined pill was more effective than ethinyl estradiol alone ( p < 0.0001). CONCLUSION: The combined pill proved to be an excellent palliative treatment and is a more practical approach because of availability at all clinic sites. (A M J O BSTET G YNECOL 1996;174:919-22.)