CONTEXT Although the characteristics associated with contraceptive use among Russian women have been studied, no large-scale research has been conducted on women's use of different contraceptive methods and abortion. METHODS A random sample of 1,147 women aged 18-44 completed questionnaires at local women's clinics in St. Petersburg in 2003-2004. Chi-square tests were used to examine differen...

Currently there are 28 approved antiretroviral drugs in six mechanistic classes, and recommended first-line regimens are highly potent, well tolerated, and as convenient as one pill, once-a-day. How will HIV treatment change by 2020? Over the next few years, we are likely to see potent 2-drug regimens tested head-to-head with standard three-drug regimens, and some of these will likely become st...

BACKGROUND Continuous use of combined oral contraceptives is currently attracting growing interest as a means of improving menstrual related symptoms and reducing the number of bleeding days. OBJECTIVES To evaluate bleeding patterns, menstrual symptoms and quality of life with an extended 84/7 oral contraceptive regimen versus 21/7 cycles. METHODS In two consecutive run-in cycles, 30 microg...

The side-effects encountered by 1,090 patients taking the oral contraceptive pill were reviewed. The main side-effects were migraine, headaches, weight gain, depression, and irregular bleeding. Reasons for changing the Pill are discussed, and recommendations are suggested for a way of monitoring patients taking the Pill. Analysis of the results show that 50 per cent of patients are happy with t...

BACKGROUND Adequate counselling on contraceptive methods can help users choose the most appropriate method. The aim of this study was to assess the effects of structured counselling provided by gynaecologists on selection of a combined hormonal contraception method. METHODS Women aged 18-40 years (n = 1871) who were considering the use of a combined hormonal contraception method (pill, transd...

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...

abstract background: the aim of this study was to compare the effects of the second- and third-generation oral contraceptives on women’s reproductive sexual function. materials and methods: this randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial was conducted on 82 married women of reproductive age in tehran. samples were randomized into the groups receiving second- and third-generatio...

The label on a bottle of pills says “Take one half pill daily.” A natural way to proceed is as follows: Every day, remove a pill from the bottle at random. If it is a whole pill, break it in half, take one half, and return the other half to the bottle; if it is a half pill, take it. We analyze the history of such a pill bottle.

BACKGROUND In late 2012, a national pill crisis led French women to promptly change their behavior regarding contraception, with a significant increase in the use of first-generation and second-generation combined oral contraceptives to the detriment of third-generation and fourth-generation products (C3Gs and C4Gs). OBJECTIVE To assess the impact of the sharp changes in 2013 on the rate of w...

CONTEXT Hormonal contraceptive users may be at increased risk for HIV and other STDs. An understanding of their decisions and abilities to use condoms is needed to focus intervention programs aimed at improving their protective behaviors. METHODS Between 1999 and 2001, 426 new users of depot medroxyprogesterone acetate (DMPA) and oral contraceptives were recruited from public clinics providin...