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Recent cohort and case control studies of low-dose combined oral contraceptives (COCs) containing the new generation of progestogens have allowed classification of adverse effects into those which are rare but serious and should be considered risks and those which are more frequent but are less of a threat to health. Low-dose COCs continue to affect coagulation in a complex way, but the risk is less than with the older preparations, and it can be minimized by screening women for a personal or familial history of early or unusual thrombosis and for levels of protein C, S, and antithrombin III. Women with true migraine with focal signs should also avoid using COCs. The relative risk of myocardial infarction (MI) may increase from 4:1 in women with one risk factor (age, smoking, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, and diabetes) to 20:1 with two risk factors and 128:1 with three or more risk factors. In the absence of all risk factors, a recent study indicated that the relative risk of MI with COC use was 1.9 for current and past use. COC use also causes a slight increase in hypertension in most women, especially those who are older or have a family history of hypertension. While the COC can affect carbohydrate and lipid metabolism, the new generation of progestogens has reduced these effects. The COC may accelerate presentation of gallbladder disease in predisposed women. The COC protects against benign breast disease but may increase the risk of breast cancer and cervical cancer slightly. There is a strong link between hepatocellular adenoma and COC use, but the incidence is low. Return to fertility after use has not been a problem. Both estrogenic adverse effects (nausea, dizziness, irritability, weight gain, bloating) and progestogenic adverse effects (vaginal dryness, acne, hirsutism, weight gain, depression, loss of libido) can occur in 50% of women, but these generally disappear after a few months of use. In conclusion, the low-dose, third generation COCs are associated with minimal risks in the absence of other risk factors and have many beneficial effects such as the prevention of ovarian and endometrial cancer; a decrease in pelvic inflammatory disease and ectopic pregnancies; and protection from anemia, primary dysmenorrhea, functional ovarian cysts, and benign breast disease as well as from the morbidity and mortality associated with pregnancy.
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PMID:The combined oral contraceptive. Risks and adverse effects in perspective. 776 40

Serum pregnancy zone protein (PZP) levels were determined by PZP-single radial immunodiffusion in 708 normal pregnancies, 207 pregnancies with complication, and 188 cases with gynecological tumors. The results indicated that serum PZP could be detected at the fifth week of normal pregnancy, up to peak level at the 40th week. 81.5% women with threatened abortion who had a good prognosis had normal PZP levels. The PZP levels of women with pregnancy-induced hypertension (PIH), intrauterine growth retardation (IUGR), anencephalus and ectopic pregnancy were within the normal range. However, 51.6% and 80.0% serum PZP levels in patients with malignant mole and choriocarcinoma, respectively, were below the normal level; PZP levels in cases with ovarian cancer were significantly higher than that of patients with ovarian benign tumors (P < 0.05); and PZP in endometrial carcinoma and cervical cancer were significantly higher than that in myoma of uterus (P < 0.05). This study showed that the measurement of serum PZP levels might be an important prognostic reference index for predicting the outcome of threatened abortion and identifying benign trophoblastic tumors and gynecological tumors.
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PMID:[Clinical significance in determining pregnancy zone protein]. 803 33

A study was conducted to examine the efficacy of a church-based model of social influence in improving access to and participation of underserved minority women in a cervical cancer control program. The model expanded on strategies used in previous hypertension control and health promotion research. A total of 24 churches, stratified by faith tradition, were randomly selected to participate in the cancer control program from a pool of 63 churches in a defined geographic area of Los Angeles County, CA. Female parishioners ages 21 years and older were eligible to participate in cervical cancer education sessions, and screening was offered to adult women who had not had Papanicolaou tests within the last 2 years. Church participation rate was 96 percent. Thirty lay health leaders were selected by the clergy to serve as messengers, recruiters, and organizers for their respective congregations. Ninety-seven percent of these lay health leaders participated in two training sessions designed to prepare them for their leadership role. Social support structures such as child care, meals, or transportation for targeted women were organized by lay health leaders in 78 percent of the churches. A total of 1,012 women between the ages of 21 and 89 years attended educational sessions. Forty-four percent of the eligible women were targeted for screening because they had not had a Papanicolaou test within the last 2 years or had never been screened. Black women were 6.6 times more likely than Hispanics to have been screened in the past 2 years. Hispanic women were 4.2 times more likely than African Americans never to have had a Papanicolaou test or been tested in 3 or more years.Overall, 90 percent of the women targeted for screening recruitment presented for tests.Fifty-two percent of the churches initiated cancer control activities by the end of the 2-year period following the culmination of the intervention program.The findings suggest that a church-based model of social influence can leverage the participation of minority women in cervical cancer control, provide access to underserved Hispanic women in particular,and sustain cancer control activities beyond the life of an intervention program.The findings further suggest that a more discrete assessment of screening history may improve the participation levels of African American women, and that the gratis offering of screening services may adversely affect their participation rates.
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PMID:The urban church and cancer control: a source of social influence in minority communities. 804 49

Because of their efficacy and ease of use, oral contraceptives (OCs) have become the most widespread contraceptive in France and the world. OCs also have the advantages of reversibility and increasing safety and innocuity due to lower doses of ethinyl estradiol (EE) and improved progestins. The contraceptive effect of OCs depends primarily on suppression of ovulation, endometrial atrophy, and modifications in the cervical mucus rendering it inhospitable to sperm. The three major types of OCs are combined pills of either standard or low dose, sequential pills, and low-dose progestins. Higher dose progestins may also be used for contraception but they are usually reserved for treatment of uterine and mammary pathology. Standard-dose combined OCs contain 50 mcg of EE, while low-dose formulations contain 20-40 mcg. Combined pills are monophasic, biphasic, or triphasic. The advantages of combined OCs are their great efficacy and antigonadotropic power, which allows total steroid doses to be reduced. They may however cause cycle problems due to endometrial atrophy. The long-term administration of EE alone for the first cycle phase with sequential pills has been shown to increase risks of breast disorders, endometrial dysplasia and uterine cancer. Sequential pills are now used only for short-term treatment in specific indications. Low-dose progestins provide a low and continuous dose of progestin. Ovulation is not always inhibited, and persisting secretion of LH and FSH involves some follicular maturation. Contraceptive efficacy relies solely on local effects on the cervical mucus, endometrial atrophy, and decreased tubal motility. The failure rate and incidence of ectopic pregnancy are higher and cycle problems are frequent. The only advantage is the absence of estrogen for women with contraindications. The side effects of combined OCs may include alterations of glucose tolerance and of lipid profiles, increases of blood pressure, modifications in coagulation factors leading to increased thromboembolic risk proportional to the estrogen dose, and increased risk of biliary lithiasis and certain types of jaundice. Combined OCs have not been formally proven to increase risk of cervical cancer, and they are known to have protective effects against ovarian tumors. Most adolescents tolerate standard-dose combined OCs quite well. Low-dose combined pills or high-dose progestins may be appropriate for women over 40. Combined OCs are contraindicated in cases of hypertension, although low-dose progestins may be prescribed. Combined OCs are contraindicated for many diabetics and in all cases of hyperlipidemia and in smokers over 35.
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PMID:[Oral contraception]. 827 87

Death and disability associated with breast and cervical cancer and hypertension can be reduced by early detection and treatment. The authors examined the rates for having obtained a Papanicolaou (Pap) test or pelvic examination, a breast physical examination, and a blood pressure test within the last 12 months among women of reproductive age in the United States in 1988, as reported by the 8,450 women interviewed for the 1988 National Survey of Family Growth. Overall, the annual rates of screening for women ages 15-44 years for those tests were 67 percent for a Pap test or pelvic examination, 67 percent for a breast examination, and 82 percent for a blood pressure test. Standard recommendations for the frequency of screening and survey data were examined to see whether actual screening practice was consistent with those recommendations. More than 90 percent of women who had a family planning service visit within 12 months received each of the tests, regardless of who provided the service or who paid for the visit. Women who were not sexually active, women with little education or low income, American Indian women, Hispanic women, and women of Asian or Pacific Islander descent had lower rates of screening than others, regardless of their risk status. These findings strongly suggest that the likelihood of having obtained screening among women 15-44 years old is determined primarily by how often a woman uses health care, rather than by her risk of disease.
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PMID:Factors associated with obtaining health screening among women of reproductive age. 843 2

Over the last couple of decades a reduction of estrogen by at least 80% in combined oral contraceptives (OCs) and much research have resulted in effective and safe contraception. We still do not know longterm effects of OCs however. OCs may protect against endometrial and ovarian cancer. A link between current OC use and liver cancer exists in areas where liver cancer is rare. An association between OC use and cervical cancer disappears when researchers control for sexual activity and barrier method use. Some research shows OC use increases the risk of breast cancer, while other research does not. There does appear to be an increased risk of breast cancer developing in women younger than 46 years of age and who have used OCs for at least 10 years. Women who have a preexisting cardiovascular condition and/or smoke should not use OCs. OC progestogens may impair glucose metabolism in healthy women, but just for 6 months. Women with diabetes mellitus can use OCs, but may need to increase insulin intake. OCs can cause hypertension in 4-5% of healthy women and worsen hypertension in about 9-16% of hypertensive women. Progestogen-only OCs have fewer systemic side effects than combined OCs, but often cause menstrual changes. Their long term effects are not yet known. Injectables containing a progestogen cause few, if any, adverse effects. The subdermal implant, Norplant, tends to cause menstrual disturbances, but is safe and effective. Progestogen - only vaginal rings are as effective as progestogen-only OCs, but menstrual irregularities are common. Failure rates for combined vaginal rings match those of combined OCs. Long-term effects of vaginal rings are not known. Postcoital contraception does not cause serious side effects, but may cause vomiting and menstrual irregularities. A levonorgestrel-releasing IUD is effective and reduces menstrual blood loss, sometimes resulting in amenorrhea. Hormonal injections in men are unlikely in the near future.
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PMID:Hormonal contraception. 829 64

Data was compiled from a wide variety sources in order to construct a demographic profile of elderly women in Latin America. Data was organized into a cross-classification matrix based on three age groups (midlife, young old, and old old) and three country types (highly rural, mixed, and highly urban). The macro-level overview takes into account such factors as education, family structure, and employment. Smaller reports and research project reports of micro conditions are used to help explain the macro trends. Women older than 40 represented 9-20% of the population of the region (of 21 Latin American and Caribbean countries). 6-14% of midlife women were widowed, with the highest concentrations in urban countries. Widows and single women comprised about 20-35% of midlife women and 50-65% of older women. Female household headship increased with age from 9-23% in midlife to 24-41% among women 60 years and older. In all countries with the exception of Uruguay, women had less primary schooling than men. Women's salaried employment in the formal sector decreased rapidly with increasing age. For example, in highly urban countries the range of employment was from 34% of women in midlife to only 4% among women 65 years and older. Women were working, but often in the informal sector or as prostitutes or beggars. Women's health conditions included 12-37% with chronic anemia and many with signs of premature aging (early onset of diabetes, hypertension, and osteoarthritic joint changes). Depression among older women may have been as high as 40%. The strain of maintaining a double work load of child care and housekeeping and employment is unmeasured. Regardless of the level of development, older women suffered primarily from heart disease. Breast cancer was more common in urban countries. Highly rural or mixed countries had greater incidence of cervical cancer. Chronic liver disease was appearing in some countries. In highly rural countries infectious diseases and malnutrition still contributed significantly to causes of death. Most women did not have social security coverage. Evidence points to women's remarkable responses (creativity, initiative, and persistence) to fulfilling survival needs.
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PMID:Older women in Latin America: the health and socioeconomic situation of this important subgroup. 857 13

Endometrial cancer affects 2-3% of American women. It is more common in obese, postmenopausal women with diabetes, hypertension, low parity, and late menopause. The prevalence of endometrial cancer among women who present with postmenopausal bleeding varies from 1.50-90%, most textbooks report a rate of 20%. Endometrial cancer is common, and although mortality rates relatively low, there are theoretical reasons suggesting that it could become a more serious problem in the future. The decreasing use of hysterectomy may leave more women at risk for endometrial cancer in future years. In contrast to cervical cancer, no routine mass screening programs for the early detection of endometrial cancer have been organized. It is of primary importance to define risk groups when designing mass screening programs. All of the methods used by cytologists for studying endometrial changes have limitations. Cervicovaginal smears allows diagnosis of, at best, 60% to 70% of carcinomas of the endometrium. Intrauterine sampling is another possible method. It consists of direct aspiration of the uterine cavity, scraping or brushing of the mucosa or uterine washing. Any method of endometrial sampling is imperfect, even dilatation and curettage has been shown to miss endometrial carcinoma. The quality of evidence supporting screening for endometrial cancer is of a low level. The lack of an effective, inexpensive and easy-to-use sampling method is the reason for the non-existent decline in the incidence of invasive endometrial carcinoma.
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PMID:[Is it possible to screen for endometrial carcinoma? Incidence and risk factors]. 872 Sep 76

Women's health in South Africa and particularly women living in peri-urban areas is being influenced by three major factors. These include the political transition that is occurring in the country, urbanization and the international interest in women's health. Changes in the delivery of health care to the population, and in particular to women are being planned. It is therefore important that data are available for the purpose of planning and evaluation of health services. This paper describes a household survey in which 661 women were interviewed. Socio-demographic patterns of women living in a rapidly urbanizing area were determined and related to health status, use of health services and knowledge of the services. Poverty appeared to be an overriding factor affecting the health of the population. One third of the women were living in unserviced shacks. There was a high rate of unemployment and those who were employed worked in low status jobs and earned very little. Rates of reported acute and chronic illness were lower than described elsewhere in similar household interview surveys. A third of the acute illnesses were due to respiratory disease. Reported rates of diabetes and hypertension were low indicating undiagnosed disease in the area. Being a member of an alliance household-a mixture of family, friends and lodgers-was the main predictor of acute illness. For chronic disease, age and increasing educational status were the main predictors. Knowledge of services apart from those for cervical cancer screening was good. The latter improved with increasing education, urbanization and being a member of an alliance household. As many of the women lived in unserviced areas and had little or no income the provision of infrastructural services and development programs are essential if their health is to be improved. The existing health services need to be developed to provide a comprehensive primary care service with special attention being paid to the health of women. The service should be close to their homes and be affordable. The information gathered in this survey will be used to plan services for women in the area and will act as baseline data for evaluation.
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PMID:Women's health status and use of health services in a rapidly growing peri-urban area of South Africa. 920 79

Vincristine, referred to as a vinka alkaloid, has been used as a component of the various chemotherapeutic regimens. The major side effects of the usual dosage of vincristine are bone marrow suppression, gastrointestinal disorder, and neurotoxicity. A 53-year-old cervical cancer patient received 14 mg (4 mg/m2/day for 2 days) of vincristine instead of vinblastine because of the similarity between the two names. Then life threatening toxicities including paresthesias, bone marrow depression, severe oral mucositis, paralytic ileus, bladder atony, myalgia, muscle weakness, high fever, derangements of various organs (liver, heart), hypertension, and insomnia were encountered. But hypotension and syndrome of inappropriate secretion of antidiuretic hormone (SIADH) were not observed. Other than paresthesias in the extremities, the patient recovered completely from toxic impairments with intensive symptomatic and supportive care. In order to prevent the administration of the overdosed drug, it would be advisable for chemotherapy to be administered only by an experienced physician who is able to check the dose and concentration.
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PMID:Overdose of vincristine: experience with a patient. 968 18


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