Clinical experience with the progestogen-only pill.
Experience with the progestogen-only pill (POP) in a family planning clinic is presented. From the clinic records, 408 women were identified who had opted to use a POP. Of these, 50 women had used the POP during lactation and these were excluded from the analysis. The remaining 358 women used the POP for up to 150 months, giving a total of 18,125 women-months of use. Three pregnancies occurred, giving a Pearl Index of 0.2 per 100 women-years. Non-menstrual side effects were minor and were reported by 77 women. For the women who discontinued the POP, the main reason was menstrual irregularity (47.5%). However, despite the long-term use by most of the women, almost 40% maintained a mostly regular menstrual pattern. Our findings suggest that the POP provides a very acceptable method of oral contraception for many women and that it should be more actively promoted.
Broome
M
M
Family Planning Clinic, Royal Berkshire Hospital, Reading, England.
Fotherby
K
K
D000328:Adult; D003267:Contraception; D003277:Contraceptives, Oral, Combined / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D005040:Ethynodiol Diacetate / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000031:analogs & derivatives; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016912:Levonorgestrel; D008597:Menstrual Cycle / Q000187:drug effects; D008875:Middle Aged; D009640:Norethindrone / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D009644:Norgestrel / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D010352:Patient Dropouts; D011372:Progestins / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects
D003277:Contraceptives, Oral, Combined; D011372:Progestins; D009644:Norgestrel; D016912:Levonorgestrel; D005040:Ethynodiol Diacetate; C014546:ethynodiol; D009640:Norethindrone