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There are currently numerous well-woman clinics in Britain which emphasize a specific aspect of health care, including cervical cancer screening (134 centers), family planning (142 centers), antenatal care (162 clinics), and venereal disease control (15 clinics). However, care provided in these clinics is fragmentary and excludes certain population groups from coverage. For example, cervical cancer smears are largely sought by upper class women under age 35, although this cancer has a higher incidence among older women from the lower social classes. Similarly, family planning clinics are not attracting women at highest risk of repeat abortion. Antenatal clinics, although effective in reducing perinatal and maternal mortality, exclude women beyond the childbearing years. At present, there are less than 10 comprehensive well-woman clinics in Britain. However, an estimated 17 million women could benefit from such a service, especially if cervical cytology screening was absorbed within it. A comprehensive clinic could focus on medical problems common to women, including menopause, frigidity, child abuse, obesity, thyroid disease, and depression. Omissions created by fragmented care, such as failure to test for conditions like anemia, could be avoided. The Manchester well-woman clinic, set up in 1981, provides an example of the role such clinics could play. The clinic is targeted at women who rarely see a general practitioner, e.g., poor, infertile, older women. Its emphasis is on the prevention and early detection of disease. Treatment is limited to self-help support groups and discussions with staff; however, new attendees are screened by a physician and nurse. 99% of attendees were found to have at least 1 medical problem. 2/3 of these problems, including breast problems, vaginal discharge, menopause problems, depression, and headache, were not already being treated. This experience suggests that there is an untapped need for such a facility, especially among women between menopause and old age.
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PMID:Evaluating well-woman clinics. 688 41

Efficacy and acceptability of 2 combined oral contraceptive pills administered vaginally are summarized. This is the 1st collaborative trial published by the South to South Cooperation in Reproductive Health. 1055 women participated in 12,630 cycles, in 9 countries, from June 1988 to May 1991. The pills were commercially available tablets containing 50 mcg ethinyl estradiol and 250 mg levonorgestrel (Schering AG, Sao Paulo, Brazil), or 30 mcg ethinyl estradiol and 15 mcg desogestrel (Organon, Sao Paulo, Brazil). Subjects were aged 17-39 younger and of lower parity from Mexico and Dominican Republic and older from Egypt and China. All had at least 1 pregnancy. 675 participated for 6 months, 470 for 1 year, 364 for 18 months, and 210 for 2 years. The 1-year discontinuation rate averaged 47.01% for the levonorgestrel group and 56.33% for the desogestrel group (p = 0.0061); 2-year discontinuation rates were 48.01% and 69.36, respectively, explained in part by higher involuntary pregnancy rates and prolonged bleeding rates in the desogestrel group. The most common medical reasons for stopping contraception were unplanned pregnancy, vaginal or vulval irritation, nausea, vaginal discharge and headache. Vaginal irritation was reported by 1%, 9 in each group. There were 32 pregnancies, 14 in the levonorgestrel and 18 in the desogestrel group. 17 were in missed pill cycles and the rest were method failures, 6 in the levonorgestrel group and 9 in the desogestrel group. The Pearl index varied from 0 in Nigeria to 12.24 in Mexico, and was 2.45 for levonorgestrel vs. 3.74 for desogestrel. There was a wide variation in discontinuation rates by center: Brazil and China had few, while many women from Dominican Republic, Mexico and Zambia left the study. Bleeding problems were common complaints, more so in the desogestrel group. There were 363 women with intermenstrual bleeding (only once in 80%), 148 with spotting (only twice in 65%). Bleeding duration was significantly less in pill cycles than baseline, pressure. Women gained an average of 1 kg over 2 years, more in the desogestrel group. The pregnancy rate of 2.78 is within the range reported for levonorgestrel rings.
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PMID:Comparative study on the efficacy and acceptability of two contraceptive pills administered by the vaginal route: an international multicenter clinical trial. 842 36

A non-comparative study of a progestin-only oral contraceptive (POC) containing 75 micrograms norgestrel was conducted at 22 sites in 14 countries. This study was designed to evaluate safety, contraceptive efficacy, and the overall acceptability of a POC in breastfeeding women. A total of 4,088 women entered the study over a three-year period and 29,399 woman-months of experience was gathered. Women had follow-up visits at 2, 6, and 11 months after admission. Headaches and vaginal discharge were the medical complaints most commonly reported by women, both prior to and after admission. Menstrual problems were reported by 59% of the women after admission. Of the 3,714 women who returned for at least one follow-up visit, 1,101 (29.6%) discontinued through month 11. The 11-month total discontinuation percentage, including those lost to follow-up (25.3%) was 51.6%. The most common reason given for discontinuation was a woman's desire for a change in contraceptive method. Only 4.9% discontinued pill use for menstrual problems, a percentage far below those generally reported for POCs. Twenty-nine unintended pregnancies occurred through 11 months giving a gross cumulative life table rate of 1.2 per 100 women (Pearl Index = 1.4). The POC appears to be a safe, effective and acceptable contraceptive option for postpartum breastfeeding women.
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PMID:A multicenter clinical trial of a progestin-only oral contraceptive in lactating women. 843 99

We studied women's beliefs and experiences of health and health care among 42 women in an urban slum area in Lahore and a village 40 km outside of Lahore. Data were collected through repeated, in-depth interviews in Urdu or Punjabi totalling 200 hours. For triangulation purposes, four focus group discussions with additional women were performed, as well as in-depth interviews with eight mothers-in-law, three traditional practitioners and three medical practitioners. The women's images of health reflected expectations on the women in society. Women from the village and women from the lowest socioeconomic stratum (SES) spoke of health in terms of physical strength; women from the city and women from low SES spoke of health in terms of mental strength; and women from medium SES discussed it in terms of cultural competence. Overall, health had a very low priority in these women's lives. Two health problems were reported by all women: mental tension leading to headache and white vaginal discharge leading to body pains and fatigue. These health problems were seen as part of womanhood; if treatment was sought, it was often from traditional healers. Village women had a flexible, pragmatic attitude toward health care resources and used all types until treated. Their relation to the doctor was specific; they were mostly concerned with the medical treatment. In contrast, city women chose health care providers depending on type of illness, and being met with respect was for them of equal concern. Childbearing experiences influenced the perceptions of health and health care. Mothers of daughters were seen to both need and deserve less food, health care and attention. These mothers were less vocal about health complaints. Women without children spoke of health in terms of physical strength. These women may have less access to health care because children cannot be used as an "excuse", and because they are not worth spending resources on.
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PMID:Images of health and health care options among low income women in Punjab, Pakistan. 935 Nov 38

The contraceptive safety and efficacy of long-term use of the oral contraceptive Belara (30 mcg ethinyl estradiol and 2 mg chlormadinone acetate) were assessed in an open, noncontrolled phase III study. Of particular interest was the effect of the anti-androgenic activity of this formulation on clinical signs of androgenization. Belara was taken by 1655 German women (mean age, 25.9 years), for a total of 22,337 cycles. A total of 12 pregnancies occurred, yielding a theoretical Pearl index of 0.269 (95% confidence interval, 0.109-0.600). No withdrawal bleeding occurred in 1655 cycles (7.4%), while spotting was documented in 2565 (11.5%) and breakthrough bleeding in 786 (3.5%). After 12 cycles of use, acne on the face/neck improved in 64.1% of affected women and completely disappeared in 53.4%. Seborrhea improved after 12 cycles in 67.9% of affected women and was cured in 58.0%. Side effects included headache (37.4%), nausea (23.1%), breast tenderness (21.7%), and vaginal discharge (19.4%). Of the 62 serious adverse events reported by 59 women, only the 2 cases of deep venous thrombosis could be linked to Belara use. Overall, these findings suggest that Belara is a well-tolerated oral contraceptive with minor side effects comparable to those associated with use of other low-dose pills.
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PMID:Efficacy and safety of the new antiandrogenic oral contraceptive Belara. 958 37

The 3 methods of long-term contraception (LTC) approved for use in the US are intrauterine devices (IUDs), levonorgestrel subdermal implants, and sustained-release medroxyprogesterone acetate injections. Women who use reversible LTC are likely to receive care from clinicians who did not prescribe the method of contraception originally. Fortunately, most concerns arising from the use of reversible LTC can be managed by clinicians regardless of their specialty. Problems associated with an IUD can include a missing string, partial expulsion of the device, change in menstrual pattern, vaginal discharge, or infection. Headaches, weight gain, dermatologic problems, changes in hair growth, and irregularities in menses are among the problems that clinicians may confront while caring for a woman who has had subdermal hormone implants or has been taking depot injections. Besides the problems caused by or complicating specific methods of LTC, a woman may seek clinical care for a variety of general concerns. These include a desire to terminate LTC in order to become pregnant, and physical changes that are suspected to indicate pregnancy or contraceptive failure. In addition, general health conditions such as concurrent medications, hypertension, and endocrine disorders may need special consideration in a woman using LTC. There are few medical indications for discontinuing or changing LTC, even when intercurrent illnesses arise.
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PMID:Managing clinical complexities of long-term contraception. 973 86

An interdisciplinary group of researchers developed a conceptual and methodological framework to determine the extent of the problem of reproductive morbidity at the community level in Middle Eastern society and then, in turn, to improve reproductive health conditions in women. It conducted an exploratory study in a family planning clinic in Cairo, Egypt; a medical workshop on clarification of the symptomatology of reproductive morbidity; and a focus group in a village in Giza, Egypt, to ensure that the reproductive morbidity questions of interview questionnaires were appropriate and complete. The group tested the accuracy of the questionnaires in 2 villages in rural Giza (509 women). Field workers went to the women's homes to administer the questionnaire on characteristics of the household during the first visit. During the second visit, they administered the questionnaire on reproductive morbidity, and then the social researcher went with the women to the health center so the women could undergo a gynecological examination. 50% of the women had reproductive tract infections, especially vaginitis. 56% had prolapse, and prevalence increased significantly with age. 63% had anemia, especially 14-19 year olds (76%). Just 24 women (5%) had no reproductive morbidity. About 50% had at least 3 reproductive conditions. The leading problems reported by the women were vaginal discharge (77%), dysmenorrhea (71%), perceived delay in conception (48%), stress incontinence (37%), and pain during intercourse (36%). Feeling of heaviness below, probably indicating prolapse, was the only symptom which increased with age (p = .03). 41% had been pregnant in the last 2 years. 77% delivered at home. Leading conditions during pregnancy were headache (59%) and discharge (45%), and those after delivery were fever and discharge/inflammation (30% for both). The interdisciplinary group proposed 3 mechanisms which are of utmost importance to policy: conducting similar research in other communities, expansion of reproductive health services at the community level, and implementing changes in the education and training programs of health professionals and social scientists.
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PMID:Concepts and measures of reproductive morbidity. 1014 96

A study was performed to establish the tolerance, acceptability and associated efficacy of a levonorgestrel-releasing intravaginal ring (IVR) in a sample of British women requiring contraception. This was achieved with an open non-randomized prospective study of 1710 women aged 18-40 years, recruited in 75 centers geographically spread around the UK using an IVR designed to release 20 microg/day of levonorgestrel. Assessments were made at baseline, after 6 weeks, after 3 months and then 3-monthly. After initial insertion of the IVR, it was changed at 3-monthly intervals. A total of 1591 women were eligible for analysis, with 572 available after 12 months and 34 after 24 months of use. Life-table analysis revealed pregnancy rates of 5.1% and 6.5% at 12 months and 24 months, respectively. The IVR was rated as acceptable or very acceptable as a form of contraceptive by 60.7% of women at 12 months. The most common adverse events were menstrual disturbance, headache and vaginal discharge. No significant pattern of biochemical, hematological, microbiological or cytological abnormalities was found but vaginal erythematous lesions were noted at some centers. This IVR was found to be a generally well-accepted method of contraception with a failure rate comparable to some other progestogenonly methods. On this basis, further development of hormone-releasing intravaginal rings is justified.
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PMID:Initial UK experience of the levonorgestrel-releasing contraceptive intravaginal ring. 1114 73

79 multiparous volunteers aged 21-40, at the birth control clinics of Ain Shams University in Cairo, Egypt chose the injection method as their contraceptive choice and were injected with deladroxate (16,17 dihydroxy progesterone acetaphenide 150 mg and 10 mg estradiol enanthate) for a total of 836 cycles. The preparation proved to be 100% effective. Some other results were: 1) the average cycle length decreased under therapy, 2) amount of flow was not affected, 3) breakthrough bleeding occurred in 3-9% of cases, 4) there was a slight increase in incidence of headache, dizziness, and vaginal discharge, 5) liver function did not change, 6) endometrial biopsies and vaginal smears indicated estrogenic effects, 7) there were no corpora lutea in ovarian biopsies but follicles existed in all stages of maturation, and 8) conception occurred within 5-16 months after discontinuation.
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PMID:Evaluation of deladroxate as a monthly contraceptive injection. 1226 99

The results of clinical trials of vaginal contraceptive pills suggest that this is a safe, effective, and acceptable means of fertility control. Plasma levels of progesterone rise at a slower pace and to a lower peak value when contraception is administered vaginally rather than orally. Despite lower blood levels, ovulation is suppressed in the majority of cycles and fertility control compares favorably with that observed in users of low-dose combined OCs. Lower steroid blood levels and the fact that vaginal pills bypass the liver minimize the occurrence of side effects noted in some OC users such as nausea, gastric intolerance, headaches, weight gain, and dizziness. In 1 clinical trial, 124 women used a vaginal pill containing 500 mcg of d-1-norgestrel and 50 mcg of ethinyl estradiol for 6-20 months, for a total of 1438 women-months. No pregnancies occurred in this series. Bleeding generally developed 3-5 days after insertion of the last pill and lasted 3-5 days in 98% of cycles. The interval between withdrawal bleeding events was 26-30 days in 86% of cycles. Breakthrough bleeding occurred in only 6 subjects. Vaginal discharge, involving pathogenic agents similar to those found in OC users, developed in 26 (20%) of subjects. 44 women (36%) discontinued before 1 year of use: 7 cited medical reasons (mastalgia, vaginal irritation), 6 desired pregnancy, and the remaining 31 found daily insertion tedious or distasteful. No significant changes occurred in blood cell counts, hematocrit, or blood chemistry. Smaller clinical trials of both Gestrinone, an anti-estrogenic progesterone, and a vaginal pill containing 50 mcg of mestranol and 1 mg of norethindrone have obtained similar results. These findings suggest that the vaginal contraceptive pill may offer family planning clinics a better alternative than OCs as the 1st prescribed contraceptive.
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PMID:The vaginal contraceptive pill. 1226 27


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