This month’s featured editorials
Joseph W. Goldzieher and The Birth of Hormonal Contraception
Giuseppe Benagiano
pages 119-124
Gregory Pincus has been rightly celebrated as the “father of the Pill” for his pioneering work on the inhibition of ovulation through the administration of progestins, energizing the entire field of contraception and setting the stage for all the developments that followed. This, however, should not result in a lack of acknowledgment of the many pioneers who transformed an idea into dozen of products used by tens of millions of women.
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Introduction to Controversies in Family Planning Courtney A. Schreiber page 125
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Controversies in family planning
The missing IUD
Peter Vasquez, Courtney A. Schreiber
pages 126-128
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Commentary
Bringing evidence to the debate on abortion coverage in health reform legislation: findings from a national survey in the United States
Kathryn A. Phillips, Daniel Grossman, Tracy A. Weitz, James Trussell pages 129-130
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Review Articles
Endocrinological, metabolic and clinical features of treatment with oral contraceptive formulation containing ethinylestradiol plus chlormadinone acetate in nonobese women with polycystic ovary syndrome
Roberto Uras, Marisa Orrů, Fabiana Pani, Maria Francesca Marotto, Monica Pilloni, Stefano Guerriero, Rossella Etzi, Pierina Zedda, Roberto Sorge, Stefano Lello, Gian Benedetto Melis, Anna Maria Paoletti
pages 131-138
Background: Chlormadinone acetate (CMA) is a progestin compound similar to progesterone, with antiandrogenic properties. In healthy eumenorrheic women, it was demonstrated that the monophasic estroprogestin formulation containing CMA (2 mg) plus ethinyl estradiol (EE) (30 mcg) (EE30+CMA) is efficacious both in reducing hyperandrogenic symptoms, fat mass and in improving lipoprotein panel, without changes in insulin-glucose metabolism. These metabolic properties are important for women affected by polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) in whom there is a predisposition to insulin resistance.
Conclusions: A six-cycle treatment with EE30+CMA is efficacious in nonobese PCOS women to improve hyperandrogenic symptoms, without negative interferences both on body composition and on insulin-glucose metabolism.
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Effect of oral contraceptive containing ethinyl estradiol combined with drospirenone vs. desogestrel on clinical and biochemical parameters in patients with polycystic ovary syndrome
Alka Kriplani, Anurekha Janaki Periyasamy, Nutan Agarwal, Vidushi Kulshrestha, Anand Kumar, Ariachery Chinnama Ammini
pages 139-146
Background: A prospective randomized trial was conducted to compare efficacy of a drospirenone-containing combined oral contraceptives (COC) with desogestrel-containing COC in women with polycystic ovary-syndrome (PCOS) not desirous of child-bearing.
Conclusion: In women with PCOS, a drospirenone containing COC has better outcome in terms of persistent regular cycles, antiandrogenic effect, fall in BMI and BP, better lipid profile, favorable glycemic and hormonal profile than desogestrel-containing COC.
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Effects of two combined hormonal contraceptives with the same composition and different doses on female sexual function and plasma androgen levels
Rodolfo Strufaldi, Luciano M. Pompei, Marcelo L. Steiner, Everaldo P. Cunha, José A.S. Ferreira, Sérgio Peixoto, César E. Fernandes
pages 147-154
Background: This study was conducted to compare the effects of two contraceptive pills with different doses of the same components, on plasma androgen levels and female sexual function among women without previous sexual dysfunction.
Conclusions: EE30/LNG150 decreased plasma androgen levels, but there was no impairment in sexual desire, on the other hand, sexual desire score increased with EE20/LNG100 formulation.
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Effects of sex hormones in oral contraceptives on the female sexual function score: a study in German female medical students
Markus Wallwiener, Lisa-Maria Wallwiener, Harald Seeger, Alfred O. Mueck, Stephan Zipfel, Johannes Bitzer, Christian W. Wallwiener
pages 155-159
Background: The survey was conducted to compare the influence of sex hormones in oral contraceptives (OCs) on female sexual function.
Conclusion: Female Sexual Function Index scores were negatively influenced by the use of OCs. However, the impact of an androgenic or antiandrogenic progestin content or different dosages of EE as modulating factors of female sexual function seems negligible.
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Pharmacist-administered subcutaneous depot medroxyprogesterone acetate: a pilot randomized controlled trial
Carla Picardo, Stefanie Ferreri
pages 160-167
Background: The objectives of this study were to assess the feasibility of administering subcutaneous depot medroxyprogesterone acetate (DMPA-SC) in a pharmacy setting and assess patient satisfaction.
Conclusion: Administration of DMPA-SC by pharmacists in a pharmacy setting is feasible. Continuation rates and patient satisfaction with DMPA-SC and the pharmacy setting were comparable to those who received DMPA-SC in a family planning clinic.
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Postexposure prophylaxis for victims of sexual assault: treatments and attitudes of emergency department physicians
Arvind Bakhru, Julie B. Mallinger, Michelle C. Fox
pages 168-173
Background: Emergency departments (EDs) are the primary source of care for victims of sexual assault (SA). Provision of emergency contraception (EC) to these women has previously been noted to be sporadic. Completeness of care for victims of SA and the barriers to complete care are further investigated in this study.
Conclusion: Sexual assault victims are often not offered comprehensive care including prophylaxis against pregnancy and all STDs including HIV. Additional research is warranted to determine why physicians do not routinely offer HIV prophylaxis after SA.
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Effect of depot medroxyprogesterone acetate on postpartum depression
Rita Tsai, Jonathan Schaffir
pages 174-177
Background: Depot medroxyprogesterone acetate (DMPA) is commonly prescribed to women immediately postpartum due to its efficacy, convenience and lack of estrogen. It is unclear whether administering a progestin injection can affect the course of postpartum depression (PPD), which some suspect to be influenced by hormonal changes. In this retrospective study, the objective was to determine whether DMPA administered immediately postpartum influences the development of PPD.
Conclusion: Administration of DMPA in the immediate postpartum period does not appear to predispose women to PPD.
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Attitudes and beliefs about the intrauterine device among teenagers and young women
Kendra L. Fleming, Abby Sokoloff, Tina R. Raine
pages 178-182
Background: Little is known about attitudes and beliefs among teenagers and young women about the intrauterine device (IUD).
Conclusions: Health care providers should be encouraged to talk to teenagers and young women who are at high risk for unintended pregnancy, both parous and nulliparous, about using the IUD.
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