Current status of oral contraceptive
Ping, W.W.; Puvan, I.S.
Medical Journal of Malaysia 30(3): 173-177
1976
ISSN/ISBN: 0300-5283 PMID: 822261 Document Number: 104040
Oral contraceptives have been implicated as a causative factor of venous thrombosis and thromboembolism. Compounds containing over 50 mcg of estrogen have developed this complication most frequently. Steroid hormones have a marked influence on liver function. Large doses have caused cholestasis and hepatocellular damage. Disturbances in carbohydrate metabolism have been recorded. Lipid metabolism have also been shown to be disturbed with increased serum levels of triglycerides and low density lipoproteins. A rise in the cholesterol serum level seems to be correlated with the progestogen content of the compound. The ''minipill'' with a small dose of progestogen alone had been effective by alteration of the cervical mucus. The ''one-a-month pill'' is a combination of a long-acting estrogen, quinestrol, and a chorter acting progestogen, qunigestanol acetate. It has not been as acceptable or as effective as combined compounds. The ''morning-after'' pill consists of large doses of stilbestrol. The method has been effective but when de-ethylstilbestrol has been given to a patient already pregnant to prevent an early spontaneous abortion, adenocarcinoma of the cervix or vagina has been reported. Hypertension has been more common with increased duration of pill use. High dosage of progestogens and increasing age of patients have increased the incidence of hypertension. Cerebrovascular disease had also been more frequent among pill users. An increased incidence of gallbladder disease and of gallstones has been shown in pill users. Urinary tract and vaginal infections were reported more often in pill users. Increased sexual activity may have been a factor in this relationship. Resumption of ovualation after discontinuation of oral contraceptives usually follows within 4-6 weeks. In about 1% of patients amenorrhea and anovulation result for 6 months or more. This is often accopanied by galactorrhea. There is evidence that mestranol is demethylated to ethinyl estradiol in the liver. Progesterone seems to interfere with conversion. Therefore ethinyl estradiol is preferred as a compound of the pill. Also the different progestogens used are metabolized in the liver to norethisterone before they exert their biological effects. Several drugs, as ampicillin and barbiturates, have been shown to interfere with the efficacy of oral contraceptives. It is concluded that the overall results have shown oral contraceptives to be an excellent form of contraception with minimal and acceptable side effects and the least metabolic disturbance.