Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
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Query: UMLS:C0034065 (pulmonary embolism)
 14,979 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

This discussion identifies the risks and benefits of each of the hormonal methods of contraception -- combined estrogen-progesterone oral contraceptive (OCs), progestogen-only pills, and depot progestogen injections. It also explains the use of a profile of risk factors in considering the appropriate prescription for each individual in relation to her contraceptive needs. Information regarding medical risks has come from the consideration of mortality rates in large cohort studies. Looking at categories of the causes of 249 deaths in ever-users of the pill and controls, Layde and colleagues were able to show that there was an excess mortality in the pill group of 40% and that the extra risk was concentrated in cardiovascular causes: myocardial infarctions, cerebral thrombosis, and cerebral hemorrhage constituted the largest proportions. A small proportion of combined OC users may develop clinical hypertension but more suffer a reduction in the high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol fraction of the blood lipids. Both of these effects tend to increase the risk of cardiovascular complications and both are positively related to the dose of the progestogen components. In prescribing combined OCs, attention needs to be paid to further moves away from the norm towards the extremes: the presence of cardiovascular risk factors and the use of certain longterm medications or the presumptive designation as a "rapid metabolizer." An analysis of progestogen only pill (POP) users in the Oxford-Family Planning Association study confirmed the reasonably low rates of accidental pregnancy in POP users. There is a marked reduction with increasing age, and it is significant that many prescribers are now giving POP to older women for whom combined OCs are contraindicated because of cardiovascular risks. It also seems reasonable to use them in women with some medical disorders, for example, recurrent pulmonary embolism, hypertension, and diabetes. Initially, depot injections of progesterone were developed to provide a long-acting or sustained-release type of drug administration to assist users of the progestogen-only method which, unlike combined OCs, does not make use of regular drug-free intervals. In practice it has been found that the effectiveness against pregnancy is enhanced and the side-effects are increased in giving progestogen by depot injection. The 2 preparations currently licensed in Britain are Depo-Provera (medroxyprogesterone acetate) and Noristerat (norethisterone enanthate). In some cases proper and clear information may not have been given to the patient and proper consent not obtained before giving the drug. This problem is magnified because of the occurrence in some women of disturbed bleeding patterns, especially if given immediately after childbirth or an abortion. Also, in a small proportion of users anovulatory amenorrhea may supervene for some months or even as long as 2 years following depot injection.
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PMID:Hormonal contraceptive methods. 401 68