A double-blind comparison of the efficacy and acceptability of Femodene and Microgynon-30.

The efficacy, cycle-control and tolerance of Microgynon-30, a widely prescribed levonorgestrel containing oral contraceptive, and Femodene, a new oral-contraceptive containing gestodene, were compared in a randomised, double-blind study involving 456 healthy women over a 6 month period. 229 women were allocated to receive Femodene and 227 received Microgynon-30. No differences between the groups in terms of obstetric and gynaecological history, previous contraceptive history, smoking habits, blood-pressure or body weight at admission were observed.

Oral contraceptive steroids and breast secretions.

Breast secretions were obtained by nipple aspiration from 164 (44.7%) of 368 consecutive premenopausal non-pregnant women volunteers attending family planning clinics. Women currently taking oral contraceptive steroids were significantly less likely to yield breast secretions than women who had never taken such preparations.

The effect of deliberate omission of Trinordiol or Microgynon on the hypothalamo-pituitary-ovarian axis.

The effect of deliberate omission of a phased formulation pill, Trinordiol (ethinyl estradiol 30 micrograms + levonorgestrel 50 micrograms: 6 tablets; ethinyl estradiol 40 micrograms + levonorgestrel 75 micrograms: 5 tablets; ethinyl estradiol 30 micrograms + levonorgestrel 125 micrograms: 10 tablets) or a low-dose, combined, oral contraceptive pill, Microgynon (ethinyl estradiol 30 micrograms + levonorgestrel 150 micrograms: 21 tablets) on the hypothalamo-pituitary-ovarian axis were studied. Thirty-six women were recruited to the study and divided equally between the two types of pill. Medication was begun on the 8th pill-free day of the cycle and continued for 7 days (Group 1), 14 days (Group 2) or 21 days (Group 3).

The functional competence of human spermatozoa recovered after vasectomy.

Progressively motile spermatozoa were present in 42/47 (89%) of post-vasectomy specimens, and in 16 of 24 samples (66%) demonstrable fertilizing potential could be detected in the zona-free hamster egg assay. The mean +/- s.e.

Interim insertion of Multiload Cu 250 IUCD.

Two hundred and ninety nine women (58 nulliparous) were fitted with Multiload Cu 250 IUCDs in five family planning clinics and followed up for 1 year. Women months (2425) of use were computerized and analyzed according to the life-table method, yielding a zero pregnancy rate and an expulsion rate of 5.0.

Antipyrine elimination in saliva after low-dose combined or progestogen-only oral contraceptive steroids.

1 A 'low-dose' combined oral contraceptive steroid (OCS) preparation containing 30 microgram ethinylo-estradiol and 150 microgram levonorgestrel was found to reduce significantly antipyrine clearance in a group of women acting as their own controls. 2 An OCS preparation containing only a progestogen (75 microgram norgestrel) did not reduce antipyrine clearance in a second group of women. 3 The evidence suggesting that the oestrogen component of combined OCS preparations could be responsible for the reduction in antipyrine clearance is discussed.

Prevalence of Yeast and fungi other than Candida albicans in the vagina of normal young women.

Yeasts and fungi other than Candida albicans were isolated from the vagina of 86 out of 1498 women (5.7 per cent) who attended a family planning clinic and they comprised 27.7 per cent of all fungal species obtained.

Prevalence of bacteria in the vagina of normal young women.

We report on factors related to the prevalence of bacteria in the vagina of 1498 women who were attending a family planning clinic. Anaerobes were significantly commoner in women with an abnormal vaginal discharge on clinical examination, in women with a history of a troublesome vaginal discharge and in women who used an intrauterine contraceptive device (IUCD) than in others. The association between anaerobes and abnormalities of vaginal discharge was found both in women who used the IUCD and in women who did not.

The effects of sterilisation: a comparison of sterilised women with the wives of vasectomised men.

In a follow-up study, women sterilised by tubal diathermy were compared with a matched group of wives of vasectomised men. Semi-structured interviews were given to a random sample drawn from a representative population. The couples were young with small families and did not have a high proportion of unplanned pregnancies or terminations.

Vaginal microbial flora in normal young women.

Vaginal swabs were taken from 1498 women attending a family planning clinic. The flora was assessed in the absence of any information about the women to whom the swabs related. Yeasts and fungi were present in 311 women (21%) and were no more prevalent among "pill" users than others.

Epidemiology and clinical significance of cervical erosion in women attending a family planning clinic.

Women attending a family planning clinic were studied to determine the relation between cervical erosion and clinical and social characteristics. The appearance of the cervix was recorded without knowledge of the women's symptoms. The prevalence of erosion increased with parity but, when the effects of other factors were controlled, decreased in women aged 35 and over.