Norethisterone and gestational diabetes.
In a single practice during the 21 years 1971-1991, the incidence of gestational diabetes in pregnancies in which norethisterone was prescribed was 32.4% (22 of 69) in comparison with 7.1% in pregnancies in which the women did not take norethisterone (137 of 1,684) (p < 0.001). Gestational diabetes was no less severe (degree of hyperglycaemia, need for insulin therapy) when associated with norethisterone. However, follow-up revealed that gestational diabetes when associated with norethisterone had a lesser risk of emerging diabetes mellitus and impaired glucose tolerance. Masculinization of a female fetus occurred in 5 of 39 (12.8%) exposed to norethisterone; all were cases of clitoral hypertrophy not requiring surgical treatment. Norethisterone in these 69 pregnancies accounted for 33.3% (5 of 15) cases of clitoral hypertrophy diagnosed in 100,756 consecutive births.
Beischer
N A
NA
Mercy Hospital for Women, East Melbourne, Victoria.
Cookson
T
T
Sheedy
M
M
Wein
P
P
D000328:Adult; D002987:Clitoris / Q000473:pathology; D016640:Diabetes, Gestational / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000188:drug therapy; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005951:Glucose Tolerance Test; D006801:Humans; D006984:Hypertrophy / Q000139:chemically induced; D007226:Infant Mortality; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007328:Insulin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008875:Middle Aged; D009640:Norethindrone / Q000009:adverse effects*; D011247:Pregnancy; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D007328:Insulin; D009640:Norethindrone