Venous effects of oral contraceptives.
In a five-year analysis of an oral contraceptive trial by the Council for the Investigation of Fertility Control venous effects were the third most troublesome group of side-effects with both combined and sequential therapy. Vein complaints, leg cramps, and thrombophlebitis were significantly more frequent with the combined preparations that contained a relatively low dose of progestogen and a high dose of oestrogen than with the other groups tested. No cases of thrombophlebitis occurred in women taking the strongly oestrogenic sequential groups.Histological examination of uterine curettings showed that most progestogenic combined preparations were associated with a high incidence of dilated endometrial sinusoids, while the oestrogenic sequential regimens and low-dose progestogen-only regimens had a low incidence. The incidence of stromal condensation round the sinusoids correlated with the incidence of leg cramps, and these effects appeared to be specific for each preparation tested.
D003276:Contraceptives, Oral / Q000009:adverse effects*; D004487:Edema / Q000139:chemically induced; D004717:Endometrium / Q000098:blood supply / Q000187:drug effects; D004967:Estrogens / Q000009:adverse effects; D004997:Ethinyl Estradiol / Q000009:adverse effects; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007866:Leg; D008234:Lynestrenol / Q000009:adverse effects; D008535:Megestrol / Q000009:adverse effects; D008656:Mestranol / Q000009:adverse effects; D009120:Muscle Cramp / Q000139:chemically induced; D009640:Norethindrone / Q000009:adverse effects; D011372:Progestins / Q000009:adverse effects; D013924:Thrombophlebitis / Q000139:chemically induced; D013997:Time Factors; D014648:Varicose Veins / Q000139:chemically induced; D014652:Vascular Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced*; D014680:Veins
D003276:Contraceptives, Oral; D004967:Estrogens; D011372:Progestins; D004997:Ethinyl Estradiol; D008656:Mestranol; D008535:Megestrol; D008234:Lynestrenol; D009640:Norethindrone
Lancet. 1967 Aug 5;2(7510):287-9
4165919
Lancet. 1967 Sep 2;2(7514):510-1
4166423
Br Med J. 1968 Apr 27;2(5599):193-9
5653024
Br Med J. 1968 Apr 27;2(5599):199-205
5653025
Br Med J. 1968 Aug 17;3(5615):402-5
4875428
Br Med J. 1968 Sep 28;3(5621):777-80
5676714