Fertility regulation in the 21st century
Newman, K.
Ippf Medical Bulletin 17(1): 3-4
1983
ISSN/ISBN: 0019-0357 PMID: 12264752 Document Number: 391854
The Society for Drug Research, based in the UK organized a 1 day symposium in London during December 1982 entitled "Fertility Control in the 21st Century." The meeting's objective was to stimulate further research into fertility regulation. Professor Carl Djerassi of Stanford University, California eloquently supported the case for postcoital contraception. He focused on teenagers who failed to use reliable contraceptive methods as an example of a subgroup of society who would particularly benefit from postcoital contraception. Djerassi presented a profile of the ideal contraceptive, which emphasized the potential for postcoital contraception. Characteristics of his "ideal" contraceptive included a need to focus on women, independence from coitus, and in the case of systemic contraception, short term exposure to the drug. Djerassi also reviewed the rigorous drug trial procedures that any new contraceptive had to undergo. Professor Martin Vessey of Oxford University focused his comments on the benefits and risks of oral contraceptives (OCs). In addition to the high efficacy of OCs, other benefits included the suppression of pelvic inflammatory disease, endometrial cancer, functional ovarian cysts, and benign breast disease. Regarding the association between OCs and benign breast tumors, Vessey stated that it appeared that it was only the most benign form that was suppressed. The protective effect against ovarian cancer appeared to persist in former users, seemed to be apparent across the spectrum of age groups, and appeared to be most pronounced in nulliparous women. 1 risk associated with OCs, according to Vessey, was the association between hepatocellular adenoma and OC. Dr. Malcolm Potts directed his comments to discussion of contraception in the 3rd world, demonstrating with a series of slides the variety of social and economic circumstances in which family planning services were needed. Other contributors to the symposium discussed new uses for old steroids, prostanoids in fertility control, immunization against fertility, and contraception in the male.