Longitudinal ultrasonographic study of the ovarian suppressive activity of a low-dose triphasic oral contraceptive during correct and incorrect pill intake

Article Abstract:

Birth control pill combines the two hormones estrogen and progesterone to suppress ovulation and prevent pregnancy. While some pills have the same dosage of estrogen and progesterone in all pills, others have varying dosages of the two hormones in individual pills. The triphasic birth control pill delivers hormones in amounts which resemble the hormone levels of a normal menstrual cycle. That is, the hormone combination is different in week one than in weeks two and three. Birth control pills suppress ovulation by inhibiting the function of hormones produced by the ovaries and the pituitary gland. Pregnancy is also prevented by the pills' ability to produce a type of cervical mucous which is not conducive for fertilization. To test the ability of the triphasic pills to prevent ovulation, the actual ovary was examined to observe whether ovulation did or did not occur. Ultrasonography, the use of high frequency sound waves to visualize internal structures, was employed for two menstrual cycles to view the ovaries of 30 women taking triphasic birth control pills. In addition, ovarian activity was also assessed when pills were taken incorrectly. Normally, follicles develop on the ovaries and then rupture releasing an egg; this indicates that ovulation has occurred. Follicle-like structures developed in 11 out of 30 women during the first month of taking the pills. Ten of these gradually disappeared and one persisted. During the second cycle seven out of 30 developed follicle-like structures. One of these follicles ruptured indicating ovulation had occurred and one had a high progesterone level without rupture. In the cases when the follicle persisted and ovulation occurred, the women had missed one pill on day one of the cycle. It is suggested that the undesirable cervical environment prevented pregnancy in these patients. When the pills were taken correctly ovulation was reliably suppressed.

Ultrasound imaging, Prevention, Ovaries, Ovulation

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A longitudinal Doppler ultrasonographic assessment of the alterations in peripheral vascular resistance of uterine arteries and ultrasonographic findings of the involuting uterus during the puerperium

Article Abstract:

Resistance in the blood vessels of the uterus begins to rise soon after delivery but is still lower than that of nonpregnant women even 14 weeks after delivery. Blood flow in the vessels of the uterus changes with hormonal fluctuations during the menstrual cycle and with the demands of the fetus during pregnancy. During pregnancy, resistance in the arteries drops and so does the pulsatility index, which measures pulse strength. Using Doppler ultrasound testing, 42 healthy women were monitored before and after delivery. The average pulsatility index before delivery was 0.73. Within two days of delivery, the average pulsatility index rose to 1.19. By three months, the average pulsatility index was 1.75. The prediastolic notch, which is an indicator of arterial resistance that usually disappears by the twenty-sixth week, reappeared in all but two women soon after delivery. The average maternal heart rate dropped from 90 beats per minute before delivery to 74 beats per minute three or four days after delivery.

Measurement, Physiological aspects, Vascular resistance, Uterus, Uterine circulation, Puerperium

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An open-label, multicenter, noncomparative safety and efficacy study of Mircette, a low-dose estrogen-progestin oral contraceptive

Article Abstract:

Mircette appears to be a safe and effective contraceptive. Mircette is a new oral contraceptive that contains desogestrel and ethinyl estradiol. Researchers evaluated the contraceptive in a study of 1,143 women. The incidence of pregnancy was 1 per every 100 woman-years. Fewer than 3% of the women stopped taking the pill even though 44% reported one or more side effects. The most common side effects were headache, breast pain, painful menstrual periods and other menstrual disorders. The pill had no effect on blood pressure, blood lipid levels or blood sugar.

Product/Service Evaluation, Mircette (Contraceptive)

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