Contraceptive Efficacy of Norethindrone with Mestranol: new low Dosage Form
Beer, M.A.
Journal of the Medical Society of New Jersey 61: 449-453
1964
ISSN/ISBN: 0025-7524 PMID: 14199356 Document Number: 8610
1. The contraceptive efficacy of a tablet containing norethindrone 2 mg. and mestranol 0.1 mg. has been determined by clinical trial in 87 women observed through 604 treatment cycles. Administration of one tablet daily from the fifth through the 24th day of each menstrual cycle proved completely effective in preventing pregnancy. The therapy also tended to produce greater regularity of menstruation and in some patients a slight diminution in the volume of flow. 2. Breakthrough bleeding or spotting occurred in 19 patients (22 per cent) and nausea in 11 (13 per cent). The former complication was generally readily controlled by temporary increase of dosage to two tablets daily. Both breakthrough bleeding and nausea occurred with greatest frequency in the first three months of treatment. Neither complication was severe enough to give cause for concern or to warrant discontinuance of treatment. Intensive questioning of patients under treatment has elicited a number of complaints predominantly of subjective nature. It seems probable that most of these complaints were attributable to suggestion but isolated instances of epistaxis, depression, and facial hirsutes may have been causally related to therapy. 3. Over a period of 19 months, slightly more than one quarter of the patients started on therapy have abandoned treatment. Among 4 patients who discontinued treatment because of a desire to become pregnant, two conceived within two months of discontinuance, and the third, within nine months. 4. Patients who have remained on treatment have been virtually unanimous in their enthusiasm for this method of conception control. Both from the standpoint of reliability and aesthetic acceptability, they regard it as superior to mechanical or chemical barrier technics.
Document emailed within 1 workday
