Studies of circulating estrogen levels in relation to pre-menopausal breast cancer risk have yielded inconsistent results. Various estrogen metabolites might affect the risk differently. Estradiol metabolism occurs primarily via two mutually exclusive pathways, yielding 2-hydroxyestrone (2-OHE) and 16alpha-hydroxyestrone (16alpha-OHE). Most, but not all, studies have found that a relatively hig...

The incidence of headaches during the first year on oral cotraceptives corrleates closely with the incidence of well-developed arterioles in endometrial biopsy specimens. This relationship appears to depend on the ratio between progestogenic and oestrogenic components of the pill as well as the particular steroids. Therefore endometrial biopsies are useful for assessing the vascular response to...

With such a plethora of birth control options [2], where?s a woman to start?! Yasmin, not to be confused with Yaz, is a low-dose pill approved for use in the U.S. in 2001. This pill is no spring chicken in the birth control world, so fortunately, there?s a good deal of information on its risks and benefits. Known as a ?combination oral contraceptive? because it contains both progestin and estro...

The authors describe the case of a large hepatocellular adenoma diagnosed in a 30-year old woman who came to us complaining of acute pain in the upper abdominal quadrants. The patient had been taking an oral contraceptive pill for the last ten years. We present the clinical features, the diagnostic work-up and the treatment prescribed.

CONTEXT After decades of debate, the oral contraceptive pill was legalized in Japan in June 1999. Because the pill had been unavailable up until then, little is known about the public's knowledge about, attitudes toward and intentions to use the pill. METHODS In a nationwide probability sample, 630 women and men were interviewed in their homes in March 1999. Respondents were asked a range of ...

OBJECTIVES To compare bleeding patterns for 12 months continuous use of a contraceptive ring [contraceptive vaginal ring (CVR)] and pill [combined oral contraceptive (COC)] on a menstrually signaled regimen and the effectiveness of 4 days "treatment withdrawal" to stop bleeding. STUDY DESIGN Women, 66 to each group, were randomized to continuous use of a CVR (15 mcg ethinyl estradiol/150 mcg ...

A case of porphyria cutanea tarda induced by oral contraceptive pill therapy is reported, and its unusual presenting sign of onycholysis of the finger nails is noted. Reference is made to the rarity of nail changes in porphyria and the regression of the onycholysis in the patient following therapy is outlined.

A 27-year-old woman presented to the clinic with well-demarcated symmetrical dry gangrene of all the toes. The onset was insidious during recent hospitalization for urosepsis and shock. There is no antecedent history of peripheral ischemia, use of oral contraceptive pill, or smoking. Her medical history is significant for hypertension and preeclampsia. Dorsalis pedis and posterior tibial pulses...

Contraceptive use among women Veterans may not be adequately captured using administrative and pharmacy codes. Clinical progress notes may provide a useful alternative. The objectives of this study were to validate the use of administrative and pharmacy codes to identify contraceptive use in Veterans Health Administration data, and to determine the feasibility and validity of identifying contra...