The recovery of fertility during breast-feeding in Assiut, Egypt.

A longitudinal study of twenty-six breast-feeding and twelve non-breast-feeding postpartum women was conducted in Assiut, Egypt in order to determine the time that ovulation resumed after childbirth, and the effect of breast-feeding frequency on the period of lactational anovulation. Breast-feeding women experienced the onset of follicular development, vaginal bleeding, ovulation and pregnancy significantly later than women who did not breast-feed. Ovulatory and non-ovulatory breast-feeders reported similar frequencies of breast-feeding episodes. The introduction of dietary supplements commonly preceded ovulation. An algorithm using three simple variables observable to the breast-feeding mother was found to predict up to 100% of the first ovulations. All breast-feeding women who did not give supplements and did not have a vaginal bleeding episode by 6 months postpartum were anovular by strict criteria for ovulation. Ovulation did not precede bleeding or supplementation in the women who experienced these events before 6 months, yielding a highly effective formula for preventing unplanned pregnancy by the informed use of breast-feeding.

PIP: A longitudinal study of 26 breastfeeding and 12 non-breastfeeding postpartum women was conducted in Assiut, Egypt in order to determine the time that ovulation resumed after childbirth, and the effect of breastfeeding frequency on the period of lactational anovulation. The breastfeeding group consisted of women ages 18-40 who had successfully breastfed at least 1 child. Breastfeeding women experienced the onset of follicular development, vaginal bleeding, ovulation and pregnancy significantly later than women who did not breastfeed. Ovulatory and non-ovulatory breastfeeders report similar frequencies of breastfeeding episodes (9-10 times in 24 hours). The introduction of dietary supplements commonly preceded ovulation. An algorithm using 3 simple variables observable to the breastfeeding mother was found to predict up to 100% of the 1st ovulations. All breastfeeding women who did not give supplements and did not have a vaginal bleeding episode by 6 months postpartum were anovular by strict criteria for ovulation. Ovulation did not precede bleeding or supplementation in the women who experienced these events before 6 months, yielding a highly effective formula for preventing unplanned pregnancy by the informed use of breastfeeding.

Hormonal changes during the first year of use of subdermal levonoregestrel implants, Norplant.

Sixty-three women had NORPLANT implants inserted during the first eight days of the menstrual cycle. Blood specimens were withdrawn at the time of insertion and every three days during one of the following months of observation; the first, third, sixth, ninth and twelfth month after insertion. Ten subjects were sampled at multiple times during implant use. A total of 83 months of observation was available. The serum concentrations of levonorgestrel (LNG), FSH, LH, prolactin (PRL), estradiol (E2) and progesterone (prog) were measured in each specimen. LNG concentration rapidly declined during the first 15 days of use, the decline became more gradual during the subsequent two weeks, and an almost steady level was reached during the remainder of the year. There were no significant trends of change in the levels of FSH, LH, E2 and prog during the year. Frequent peaks in E2 concentration were observed and were generally associated with or followed by LH surges. PRL concentration showed a slight but significant rise during the second half of the year. Rises in prog concentration suggestive of ovulation occurred in 36 percent of the months of observation. However, in all these instances, there were evidences suggestive of deficient luteal phase. The bleeding episodes were usually, but not always, related to decline in E2 and prog concentrations.

Synthesis and anti-inflammatory activity of certain new N,N'-oxamides.

Some new amides of substituted oxamic acid which embody different moieties of the anti-inflammatory drugs were prepared through two routes of synthesis. The physico-chemical properties as well as the anti-inflammatory activity of these compounds were determined. Preliminary pharmacological testing revealed the superiority of most of the screened compounds as anti-inflammatory agents with relatively low toxicity as compared with acetylsalicylic acid. Correlation between structure and biological activity was suggested.