Effectiveness of a sequential oral contraceptive tablet
Newland, D.O.; Mintzer, A.J.; Kennedy, R.F.; Kendall, T.
Obstetrics and Gynecology 28(4): 516-520
1966
ISSN/ISBN: 0029-7844 PMID: 5925039 Document Number: 479549
A cyclic dosage of a sequential oral contraceptive, 0.08 mg mestranol for 14 days followed by 2 mg norethindrone plus the estrogen for 6 days, was administered to 529 patients. The results were nearly 100% effective. One unplanned pregnancy was recorded in 7729 cycles of use. The patient had a history of amenorrhea and had missed taking the tablets. For various reasons, 37.1% of the patients discontinued the tablet. The side effects which occurred usually appeared in the early cycles and diminished after a few cycles of continued treatment. Reports of such effects were fewer in the early cycles than found with the use of progestin-mestranol combinations. Patient acceptance was high for an oral contraceptive and higher than for other methods offered in this clinic, only 6% of patients discontinuing treatment for reasons attributable to the medication.