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Query: UMLS:C0018681 (headache)
 56,091 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

More than 300 subscribers of Contraceptive Technology Update (CTU) completed the questionnaire for the 1994 Pill Survey. Most respondents (68%) were nurse practitioners followed by physicians (11%), registered nurses (9%), and physician assistants (4%). 92% of respondents considered oral contraceptives (OCs) (especially Ortho-Cept and Ortho Novum 7/7/7) as the leading hormonal contraceptive choice among adolescents and adults. Among teens, Depo-Provera was the second choice (4%). Among adults, Depo-Provera and the contraceptive implant, Norplant, fared equally as well (2% each). Headaches, mood swings, and weight gain continued to be complaints for all hormonal contraceptives. Progestins are potent depressants. Norplant produced the most complaints. About 20% of providers reported that at least 20% of their patients wanted Norplant implants removed because of significant side effects, especially irregular bleeding. Most Norplant users had the implants for no more than 12 months. The providers realized that they were providing insufficient counseling to Norplant users about irregular bleeding before insertion. A physician noted that some women experience infertility for as long as two to three years after their last Depo-Provera injection. Some providers discourage women from using Norplant based on the many complaints they have received from past users.
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PMID:Depo-Provera and Norplant implants prove no competition for no. 1 choice, OCs. The 1994 pill survey. 1228 3

The new low-dose oral contraceptive (OC), Mircette, is the first pill to shorten the hormone-free interval. The dosing regimen begins with 21 days of 20 mcg of ethinyl estradiol and 150 mcg of desogestrel; the last 7 days start with 2 days of placebo, followed by 5 days of 10 mcg of ethinyl estradiol. These 5 days of ethinyl estradiol are expected to oppose the effect of any follicle-stimulating hormone in promoting growth of a follicle in the estimated 20% of pill takers who are close to ovulation at the end of each pill-free interval. The efficacy trial, which included more than 1000 women followed for 18 menstrual cycles, reported a Pearl index of 1.02. Breakthrough bleeding occurred in 3.5% of the 18 cycles. Less than 3% of women discontinued Mircette use because of menstruation-related side effects. The small amount of estrogen provided by Mircette during the last 5 days of the cycle helps prevent the withdrawal headaches many users of OCs with a longer hormone-free interval experience. Mircette will become available in the US in July 1998.
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PMID:Shortened pill-free interval delivered by new 20 mcg pill. Organon's Mircette scheduled for U.S. debut this summer. 1229 26

Another low-dose oral contraceptive (OC), Levlite, has received US Food and Drug Administration approval. Levlite, manufactured by Berlex Laboratories, contains 20 mcg ethinyl estradiol and 100 mcg levonorgestrel. Alesse, an OC manufactured by Wyeth-Ayerst, has the same components. Two other OCs--Loestrin and Mircette--contain 20 mcg ethinyl estradiol, but differ in their progestin component or dose. A pill containing 20 mcg ethinyl estradiol provides women with 33% less estrogen than a 30-mcg pill. Clinical trials involving 755 US women confirmed that Levlite provides high contraceptive efficacy with good cycle control. Headache, reported by 17.3% of study participants, was the most common side effect.
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PMID:Berlex introduces new 20 mcg birth control pill. 1229 11