Desogestrel-ethinylestradiol, an oral monophasic contraceptive. Clinical and lipid metabolic effects: a 5-year experience.

A comparative study of 5 years' duration using desogestrel (DSG), levonorgestrel (LN), and norethindrone (NET), combined with ethinyl estradiol (EE), was conducted. A total of 4499 cycles on DSG-EE, 3691 on LN-EE (1980 on triphasic and 1711 on monophasic schemes) and 1680 on NET-EE was evaluated. A contraceptive efficacy of 100% was obtained in all the groups. Minimal side effects were observed. In particular, body weight in those women on DSG-EE did not show noticeable changes and headaches were minimal. No alterations on blood pressure readings or on the routine laboratory tests were noticed in any of the groups. There was a significant increase in high-density lipoprotein-c (HDL-c) in women on DSG-EE. There was no change in NET-EE, and a significant decrease in women on LN-EE in both schemes. Changes in LDL-C, very low density lipoproteins, triglycerides, total lipids, total cholesterol, and glucose were not significant, although there was some increase at 60 cycles on triglycerides on those women on DSG-EE and on NET-EE. At the end of 5 years, 76% of women continued on DSG-EE. They indicated their satisfaction with this method.

[Calcium lonazolac and blood loss in users of intrauterine devices. Preliminary report]. / Lonazolac cálcico y pérdida sanguínea en usuarias de dispositivos intrauterinos. Informe preliminar.

PIP: 3 groups of IUD users participated in a preliminary study to evaluate the effect of calcium lonazolac, a nonsteroid antiinflammatory agent, on excessive menstrual bleeding. All participants were parous women aged 20-30 years in good health. Multiload 250 IUDs were inserted in 15 women averaging 24.5 years of age. They were also supplied with calcium lonazolac tablets in 200 mg doses to be taken continuously 3 times daily. 15 women averaging 26.1 years also had multiload 250 IUDs inserted. They were given the same instructions but their medication was a placebo. A third group of 30 women averaging 26.2 years of age who had experienced heavy bleeding during 6-36 months of IUD use were given 200 mg tablets of calcium lonazolac to be taken 3 times daily. The 30 women used various types of IUDs. All 60 women were provided with sanitary pads to be returned at their regular clinic visits. Hemoglobin and hematocrit levels were also determined at each visit. The method of Hallberg and Nilsson was used to measure menstrual blood loss. There were no significant changes in the volume or duration of bleeding or hemoglobin or hematocrit levels in the 15 women given the drug. The 15 women given the placebo had a significant increase in the quantity of blood loss and a significant increase in the duration bleeding in the 3rd month. The 30 women with histories of heavy bleeding had significant decreases in volume and duration of bleeding. Modifications in hemoglobin were not especially significant, while the hematocrit levels increased in the 2nd and 3rd months. None of the women reported significant side effects except 1 woman with a prior history of gastritis. Her gastric distress was controlled by an antacid after meals for 1 week. Comparison of results between the treated and control groups suggests that calcium lonazolac gives good results. Its use should be evaluated at lower doses with consumption limited to days of bleeding only.^ieng

[Effects of lynestrenol used singly in low doses, as a contraceptive]. / Efectos del linestrenol utilizado solo a dósis baja, como anticonceptivo

PIP: The effects of lynestrenol, administered continuously in the dose of .5 mg/day, were studied in 50 women during 1146 menstrual cycles. 45 patients completed 24 cycles each. Before treatment and every 6 cycles all patients were subjected to questioning, physical examination, cytological, blood and urea nitrogen tests and urinalysis. 50% were also subjected to hepatic function tests (sulfobromophtalein excretion, glutamic oxalacetic transaminase, alkaline phosphatase, cephalin-cholesterol flocculation) and endometrial biopsies every 6 cycles. Subjective side effects were absent and weight and blood pressure remained unchanged. Laboratory tests and cytological studies showed normal results. Only 14% of the biopsies performed showed interferen ce with the normal hormonal transformation of the endometrium. The average duration of menstruation was 4-5 days; 7% of all cycles were shortened by 5-10 days and .2% by 11-14 days. 7% of the cycles were prolonged by 5-10 days and .8% by 11-20 days. Amenorrhea was present in .4% of the cycles. Irregular bleeding (either spotting or breakthrough bleeding) was present in 14% of the cycles. 6 patients (12%) stopped the treatment for this reason. It is concluded that the preparation studied is effective and very well tolerated. Patients must be advised regarding the possibility of irregularities in the menstrual cycle, the efficacy of the drug and the absence of other unwanted side effects, to decrease the dropout rate.^ieng

[A parenteral monthly contraceptive (preliminary report)]. / Un anticonceptivo mensual parenteral (comunicación preliminar.

PIP: 100 volunteer patients of proven fertility were treated with a monthly injection of a mixture of 5 mg of estradiol cipionate and 25 mg of medroxyprogesterone acetate for approximately 1 year covering 1108 cycles. The contraceptive effectiveness of the drug was very satisfactory (0 pregnancies). Menstrual cycle alterations occur in the first 6 months of treatment, bleeding becomes spotting, cycles become longer, and amenorrhea follows in a number of cases. However, it is les s prolonged and frequent thatn when progestogen alone is used. Changes were found in vaginal cytology and endometrial histology. Only 7 of 100 patients discontinued the treatment, and side effects other than those related to the menstrual cycle were minimal and apparently of little significance. The findings suggest that research on these substances should continue.^ieng