Oral Contraceptive Intake Research Articles

Inhibition of hepatic demethylation of aminopyrine by oral contraceptive steroids in humans

The effect of oral contraceptive steroids (OCS) on the rate of hepatic demethylation of 14C-dimethylaminoantipyrine (DAP) was studied directly in healthy young volunteers using a newly developed noninvasive breath analysis technique. After oral administration of a trace dose of DAP the specific activity of 14CO2 in breath was determined during 6 h and expressed as half life. The half life of eighteen female and twelve male control subjects was 2.4 +/- 1.2 h (2 SD) and 2.2 +/- 0.6 h (2 SD), respectively. In seven women starting OCS a progressive prolongation of DAP half life during a single menstrual period was observed. In seventeen women who had taken OCS in 21 day cycles, for more than 3 months, the half life was significantly (P less than 0.001) prolonged (4.4 +/- 2.1 h) when measured after 21 consecutive days of OCS intake. On average, stopping OCS for 7 days or giving phenobarbital in addition to OCS shortened DAP half life significantly (from 4.4 +/- 2.1 h to 3.2 +/- 1.1 h, n = 17, P less than 0.005; and from 4.6 +/- 2.0 h to 3.2 +/- 1.0 h, n = 12, P less than 0.01, respectively). Eight of twelve women on OCS responded to OCS intake and to OCS cessation and phenobarbital, whereas four women did not respond to any of these measures. These data suggest that inhibition of hepatic demethylation of DAP by OCS is time dependent and reversible. The extent of inhibition appears to be an individual characteristic of a given person.

Amenorrhea following the Use of Oral Contraceptives

Clinical aspects and the incidence of the various underlying etiologic factors were studied in 86 patients with post-oral contraceptive amenorrhea. Patients were divided into two groups according to the presence or absence of detectable galactorrhea. Group I was composed of 55 amenorrheic patients without detectable galactorrhea and group II included 31 patients with amenorrhea associated with galactorrhea. Both groups were comparable for age, gravidity, duration of intake of oral contraceptives, and duration of amenorrhea. The incidence of previous oligomenorrhea and late menarche was high in both groups. The most striking difference between the two groups was in the incidence of pituitary prolactin-secreting tumor--32% among patients with galactorrhea and less than 2% among patients without galactorrhea. Identification of galactorrhea and accurate diagnosis of its causes are mandatory for successful management of postpill amenorrhea.

ORAL CONTRACEPTIVES, ANTITHROMBIN-III ACTIVITY, AND POSTOPERATIVE DEEP-VEIN THROMBOSIS

Deep-vein thrombosis (D.V.T.) was detected by the fibrinogen-uptake test in six out of a total of thirty-one young women undergoing emergency abdominal surgery who gave a history of recent oral contraceptive intake. In contrast, no D.V.T. developed in nineteen similar patients who were not on oral contraceptives (P< 0·01). Plasma-antithrombin-III activity was significantly lower preoperatively in patients taking oral contraceptives, postoperative D.V.T. subsequently developed in three out of five patients with preoperative antithrombin-III activity below 50%. In seventy-eight dental patients undergoing molar extraction, antithrombin-III activity was measured before, during, and after operation. Activity fell in all patients during operation, but the fall was significantly greater in women taking oral contraceptives (P < 0·01). The intra-operative fall in antithrombin-III activity was prevented by a small preoperative dose of subcutaneous heparin.

Variations in serum iron and total iron binding capacity with the time of intake of combined oral contraceptives

Serum iron and total iron binding capacity (TIBC) were estimated in 145 healthy subjects in the reproductive stage of life, using lyndiol and eugynone for a period of 1–72 months, and results were compared with those of 30 healthy individuals, of the same class, also in reproductive stage of life. Serum iron variation did not follow any clear pattern. TIBC increased in 80% of the subjects to a value equivalent to 3–110% of the mean control. There was also a clear increase observed in immunoelectrophoretic pattern of transferrin, following the use of oral contraceptives.

Factors affecting serum creatine phosphokinase levels in normal adult females

The serum creatine phosphokinase (CPK) levels of a group of female subjects were investigated in an attempt to define those factors which were responsible for inter- and intra-personal variation of CPK level.Three venous samples of blood were taken at arbitrary intervals from 42 normal, healthy volunteers. Information on the socio-economic and physical condition of each subject was obtained by means of a questionnaire completed when each sample was taken. The CPK level of each sample and mean CPK level for each individual was found and statistically analysed against this information.Factors which appeared to significantly affect CPK levels were alcohol consumption, oral contraceptive intake, age, marital status and parity. The influence of such factors in the assessment of possible female carriers of the sex-linked form of pseudohypertrophic muscular dystrophy is discussed.

Serum Copper and Zinc Levels in Patients Taking Oral Contraceptives

Serum copper and zinc levels of 251 healthy women aged 19-30 years taking various combined and sequential oral contraceptives (OCs) were compared with those of 91 healthy women not taking OCs. Average serum copper level for the OC group was significantly greater than that of controls and serum zinc level was significantly lower than that of controls the respective changes exceeding normal ranges in 21 of the women. Length of OC intake type and composition of OC and day of cycle had no significant effect on copper level but zinc level was lower in those taking sequential compounds. Serum metal levels may eventually play a role in determining patient selection or rejection for OC therapy.

Brain circulation disorders in young women following intake of oral contraceptives?

Brain circulation disorders in young women following intake of oral contraceptives?

Strokes following intake of oral contraceptives?

Drug Prescribing for Patients with Chronic Kidney Disease in General Practice: a Cross-Sectional Study

Spontaneous rupture of a myoma through the uterus

A case history is presented of a 35-year-old multiparous woman who was taking oral contraceptives (2.5 mg norethynodrel and .1 mg mestranol) for 1 year and experienced a rare spontaneous rupture of a myoma through the uterine wall. The patient was admitted with severe lower abdominal colicky pain and the preliminary diagnosis was torsion of ovarian cyst. Surgery revealed a uterine tumor erupting from the left horn; fear of sarcoma type matignancy prompted hysterectomy. Later examination revealed a benign rich cellular leiomyoma which caused rupture probably through rapid growth. Oral contraceptive intake during the previous year may have been related to intensive myomal growth and consequent uterine rupture.

Barriers to Birth Control Knowledge

This title may appear incongruous in a country such as Australia which is reputed to have the highest incidence of oral contraception intake in the world. The writer has found, however, in the course of participating in the establishing of three different family-planning clinics, that barriers do exist to both the spread of knowledge and the provision of family planning. These barriers can be either easily identified or largely hidden and will be discussed below.

Oral contraceptives and thyroid function tests.

A study was undertaken to evaluate the effects of various brands of oral contraceptives on certain thyroid parameters. Tests for protein bound iodine (PBI) hormonal iodine (HI) resin uptake of radioactive triiodothyronine (RU) electrophoretic index using radiothyroxine (EI) 4-hour iodine-131 uptake by the gland and oxygen consumption (comparative values) were used. The subjects under investigation were normal controls euthyroid women using ovulation suppressants patients taking oral contraceptives and suspected of thyroid dysfunction and pregnant women. The intake of ovulation inhibitors was invariably found to influence the PBI HI RU and EI values. The changes were proportional to the quantity of estrogen contained in the various oral contraceptives used. 2 progestogens did not produce significant changes in the results of thyroid function tests. 1 cycle of administration increased oxygen consumption but had no effect on the 4-hour iodine-131 uptake by the thyroid gland. After 1 cycle of administration the changes induced in the parameters of thyroid function continued reaching their peak between Days 3 and 7. All parameters returned to normal levels at 4 weeks after cessation of medication whereas after long-term administration the time required was at least 6 weeks. It was noted in a few patients with latent thyrotoxicosis that the exhibition of oral contraceptives provoked an exacerbation of toxic symptoms. The comparison of thyroid function tests during normal pregnancy and during the use of ovulation suppressants revealed similar changes. There is no conclusive evidence that thyroid function in euthyroid individuals is altered by the intake of oral contraceptives and further work in this field is necessary.(AUTHORS MODIFIED)