Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
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Query: UMLS:C0018681 (headache)
 56,091 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

Physicians recruited 882 women into a multicenter trial of a new biphasic oral contraceptive (OC) (25 mcg + 125 mcg desogestrel and 40 mcg + 30 mcg ethinyl estradiol). Trial sites were in Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Norway, Sweden, and the former Yugoslavia. After 3 cycles, women who had switched from using another OC in the 2 months before the study (switchers) were less likely to continue the new OC than were women who had not used any OC in the last 2 months (starters) (6 cycles = 87.2% vs. 90.6%, 12 cycles = 74.7% vs. 79.5%; and 18 cycles = 59.8% vs. 64.9%). Withdrawal bleeding did not occur in 3.2% of all cycles. Absence of withdrawal bleeding became less common over time (cycle 1 = 7.6%, cycle 3 = 5%, cycle 6 = 3.2%, and cycle 18 = 1.8%). Duration of withdrawal bleeding was no more than 5 days in 80% of all women. More and more women had no more than 5 days of withdrawal bleeding as time passed (cycle 1 = 81.7%, cycle 6 = 85.6%, and cycle 18 = 90.6%). Irregular bleeding was more common in the first cycles of the study than in subsequent cycles (e.g., spotting during cycles 1-3 = 8.5-4.8% vs. 3.7-3.1% during cycles 6-18). By cycle 18, 96% of all women had no irregular bleeding. The drop-out rate for irregular bleeding was 2.2% at the end of the study. In 5% of cycles, at least 1 tablet was forgotten. In the first cycles, starters were somewhat more likely to complain of nausea, headache, and breast tenderness than switchers (e.g., nausea, cycle 1 = 5.8% vs. 3.4%). The gap between the 2 groups disappeared after 3 cycles. Starters were more likely to have minor complaints before OC use than after OC use (e.g., 6.5% fewer frequencies of headaches at 18 months). These findings show that the new OC has very good cycle control and a agreeable side effect profile.
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PMID:Cycle control and side effects of a new combiphasic oral contraceptive regimen. 794 27

Results of a large multicentered clinical trial of a new contraceptive vaginal ring show that the new ring may be about as effective as oral contraceptives but with fewer side effects. The ring, which is a little smaller than a 75 mm diaphragm and has a Silastic inner core and outer tubing, is avilable in 2 sizes (50 mm or 58 mm) and contains a middle layer with a steroid mixture of estrogen and progestin. Both types of ring contain about 100 mg levonorgestrel and 50 mg estradiol. Ovulation is suppressed by the steroids in the ring. The ring is placed in the vagina for about 3 weeks and then removed for 1 week. Withdrawal bleeding occurs when the ring is removed. Comparative studies of the effectiveness of the ring and a pill (Nordette, which contains 150 mcg levonorgestrel and 30 mcg estradiol) show that after a year's use, both type of contraceptives had a pregnancy rate of about 3 pregnancies per 100 users. Ring users had higher continuation rates than pill users (50/100 women for the ring vs. 30/100 for the pill). Reasons for discontinuation for the ring include occurrence of vaginal discharge, vaginitis, and menstrual problems. Ring users had lesser incidence of nausea and headache compared to pill users; they also did not experience an increase in angiotensinogen levels or blood pressure. Another advantage of the ring is its once-a-month administration. Investigators are still testing the best method for using the ring. However, as testing is not yet complete, application for approval by the Food and Drug Administration may take quite some time.
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PMID:Trials point to effectiveness of new vaginal ring. 1227 58