Eight Years' Expeience with Oral Contraception and an Analysis of Use of Low-dosage Norethisterone

A brief review of a 8 years study of oral contraception is given. In 1956 the Los Angeles Planned Parenthood Center initiated the first United States study of oral contraception and embarked on comprehensive and detailed investigations of this form of birth control very shortly after Pincus began his pioneering work in Puerto Rico. After a few years use of relatively high doses of estrogen-progestogen combinations the Center began using a variety of lower-dosage forms as well as new agents in an attempt to modify some of the side effects and also provide less medication and more inexpensive products. Detailed blood-studies have been carried out on patients using various preparations. In general while some chemical factors were altered it is possible that these are not evidence of a pathological change but rather may be attributable to the pseudopregnancy state. These studies are being continued and expanded. An analysis of over 3 years study of the 2 mg norethisterone product is presented. In 6455 cycles of use by 435 patients side effects were minimal; and there were no pregnancies.