birth control
[Has legal abortion replaced other methods of birth control?]

[Article in Swedish]

Meirik O.

PIP: When discussions on the present Abortion Act in Sweden were at their height, fears were expressed that legal abortion would be used instead of other methods of birth control. The author has compiled the age-specific fertility and abortion rates for the years 1965-78 and has found that the combined fertility and abortion rates show a declining trend in almost all age groups. Available statistics on fertility and abortion yield no support for the idea that legal abortion has generally replaced other methods of birth control. (Author's modified)

Online source: www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=7374284&dopt=Abstract birth control



birth control
Sexual experience, birth control usage, and sex education of unmarried Canadian university students: changes between 1968 and 1978.

Barrett FM.

Changes in coital experience, birth control usage, and sex education between 1968, 1971, 1974, and 1978 were studied in unmarried Canadian university students. The percentage of coitally experienced females increased from 32% in 1968 to 58% in 1978 and of males from 40% to 62%. There was no significant change between 1974 and 1978 for either sex, nor were there sex differences in coital experience in either year. Coitally experienced females were more likely to have had intercourse in the 3 months preceding both 1974 and 1978 surveys, but otherwise there were no sex differences in coital frequency, lifetime number of coital partners, or age at first intercourse. Religion was a more reliable indicator of coital experience in 1968 than in 1978. Males were more likely than females to report postpubertal sexual contacts which they classified as homosexual (16.5% vs. 7%) whereas 12-13% of both sexes reported no sexual contacts of any kind with another person. Contraceptive risk-taking was high at first intercourse and among those having infrequent coitus. However, both this group and more coitally active students were less likely to take such risks in 1978 than in 1968, almost entirely because of increased pill use. Coitally experienced vs. inexperienced students differed in their ranking of the major influences on their knowledge and attitudes about sex.

PIP: Changes in coital experience, birth control usage, and sex education between 1968, 1971, 1974, and 1978 were studied in unmarried Canadian University students. The % of sexually experienced females increased from 32% in 1968 to 58% in 1978 and of males from 40% to 62%. There was no significant change between 1974 and 1978 for either sex, nor were there sex differences in sexual experience in either year. Sexually experienced females were more likely to have had intercourse in the 3 months preceding both 1974 and 1978 surveys, but otherwise there were no sex differences in coital frequency, lifetime number of sexual partners, or age at 1st intercourse. Religion was a more reliable indicator of coital experience in 1968 that in 1978. Males were more likely than females to report postpubertal sexual contacts which they classified as homosexual (16.5% vs. 7%) whereas 12-13% of both sexes reported no sexual contacts of any kind with another person. Contraceptive risk taking was high at 1st intercourse and among those having infrequent coitus. However, both this group and more coitally active students were less likely to take such risks in 1978 than in 1968, almost entirely because of increased pill use. Coitally experienced vs. inexperienced students differed in their ranking of the major influences on their knowledge and attitudes about sex.

Online source: www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=7447682&dopt=Abstract birth control



birth control
[Planning of pregnancy and birth control in the capital of Valladolid (author's transl)]

[Article in Spanish]

Albert A, Carrasco F, Duenas JL.

This work presents the results which the authors obtained by means of an inquiry carried out on 920 women with children, or women bearing their first child, in order to find out how many pregnancies are conceived deliberately in the capital of Valladolid and what kind of birth control was adopted by the couples in this capital in order to delay, postpone or prevent pregnancy. The authors come to the conclusion that, first, during the seventies a little less than 50% of the gestations in Valladolid were not planned or wanted. The first pregnancy is not planned in one out of four cases, of which nearly 50% are women under twenty years of age. The couples seek to control their reproduction once they have their first two children. From 30 years onward, seven out of ten pregnancies are neither planned nor wanted. Three quarters of the women investigated, or their husbands, use some method of birth control, normally of little efficacy, and this because of the method itself, or because of the deficient way they use it. "Coitus interruptus", alone or combined with other methods, is practised by two of three couples who seek to control their reproduction.

PIP: This work presents the results of an inquiry carried out on 920 women with children, or women bearing their 1st child, in order to find out how many pregnancies are conceived deliberately and what type of birth control was adopted by the couples in order to delay, postpone, or prevent pregnancy. These results indicate that during the 1970s, a little less than 50% of the gestations in Valladolid were not planned or wanted. The 1st pregnancy is unplanned in 1 of 4 cases, wherein nearly 50% of the women are under 20 years of age. The couples seek to control their reproduction once they have their first 2 children. From age 30 onward, 7 of 10 pregnancies are neither planned nor wanted. 3/4 of the women investigated, or their husbands, utilize some birth control method, often an inefficient method or one which is being improperly used. Coitus interruptus was practiced, either alone or combined with other methods, by 2 of 3 couples who sought to control their reproduction. (author's)

Online source: www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=7461279&dopt=Abstract birth control



birth control
[The reaction of the nursing students to the new rhythm method]

[Article in Japanese]

Nakamura H.

PIP: A 3-hour lecture of the new rhythm birth control method (Temperature-secretion-palpation method) was given to 24 students of the nursing school. The effect of this lecture was evaluated with a questionnaire survey to these 24 students about: 1) previous knowledge of the new rhythm birth control method; 2) consideration about this method; 3) willingness to teach this method to patients; 4) usage of tampons. The results show: 1) only one student has heard about this method before; 2) 18 students think this method is a better contraceptive method, but 11 of them think it is so hard to be explained to the patients and so hard to be accepted by women in general, that they do not like to teach this method to other people; 3) only 7 students want to teach this method; 4) 5 students are using tampons, and all of the five students are willing to promote this method. An statistical significant difference (p=15.35) has been proved between the number of tampon users and the number of those who are willing to promote this method in this study. The new rhythm method is technically harder to practice and to keep records on than other birth control methods. Being a nurse, a full understand of it is required.

Online source: www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=253036&dopt=Abstract birth control



birth control
The role of hormones in the etiology of breast and endometrial cancer.

Gambrell RD.

Despite many years of extensive investigation, there has been neither a clear-cut pattern of hormonal production nor milieu found in women with breast cancer. Estrogen replacement therapy for menopause does not significantly increase the risk of breast cancer and one study indicated that estrogen users have a lower incidence of breast cancer than that observed in untreated women. Some studies have shown that the mortality rate from breast cancer is lower in estrogen-treated postmenopausal women. Only one investigator has found any significantly increased risk of breast cancer in oral contraceptive users. In that report, increased duration of birth control pill use decreased the risk of breast carcinoma. Several studies were unable to find an increased risk of breast cancer from oral contraceptives while one investigation observed a lower incidence in birth control pill users than that expected. The mortality from carcinoma of the breast in oral contraceptive users was lower than in non-users, most likely due to earlier detection. Although some retrospective studies have indicated that estrogen use increases the risk of endometrial cancer, a prospective investigation found only an insignificant increase. Progestogens afford some protection from cancer in estrogen-treated postmenopausal women. The incidence of endometrial adenocarcinoma is lower than that observed in untreated postmenopausal women. Combination oral contraceptives are protective against developing adenocarcinoma of the endometrium but sequential birth control pills may afford less protection.

Online source: www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=294115&dopt=Abstract birth control



birth control
Inhibition of ovulation in women by chronic treatment with a stimulatory LRH analogue--a new approach to birth control?

Nillius SJ, Bergquist C, Wide L.

A stimulatory luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone (LRH) analogue D-Ser(TBU)6-EA10-LRH was administered subcutaneously once daily in a dose of 5 microgram to four regularly menstruating women. Treatment was instituted within the first three days of the menstrual bleeding and continued for 22--30 days. Ovulation was inhibited in all the women during the treatment cycle. The treatment resulted in disturbances in the pituitary gonadotropin secretion which presumably led to disordered follicular menuration and anovulation. The maximum follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH) responses to the LRH analogue were obtained during the first few days of treatment. The gonadotropin responses then rapidly decreased during the prolonged treatment. This change in the pituitary responsiveness probably prevented the release of a normal preovulatory LH surge. After the treatment, all the women resumed normal ovulatory menstrual cycles. The results suggest that it might be possible to use stimulatory LRH analogues for birth control.

PIP: 4 women aged 30-34 years were given the luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone (LH-RH) analog D-Ser(TBU6-EA10-LRH to determine its effects on the pituitary response. 5 mcg/day analog were self-administered sc for 22-30 days beginning within the first 3 days of menstrual bleeding, and serum follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), estradiol, and progesterone were monitored 3 times weekly. In all 4 subjects there was a sharp rise in LH and FSH on Treatment Day 1 that fell to within lower normal follicular phase limits for the remainder of treatment. Estradiol and progesterone responses varied among the subjects, perhaps because premature bleeding caused 2 subjects to begin treatment at a different point in the menstrual cycle. 1 subject stopped treatment after Day 22 because of headache and vertigo. None of the women ovulated during treatment, but 3 of 4 had ovulated within 4 weeks of discontinuation of treatment, and all women ovulated in the following cycle. The anovulatory effect of the analog is thought to be due to a disturbance of pituitary gonadotropin secretion that leads in turn to disordered follicle development. The possibilities for using this analog as a means of birth control are discussed.

Online source: www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=352612&dopt=Abstract birth control



birth control
Teenagers and contraception.

Rozenbaum H.

Early sexual activity in young women has created new problems in contraception and gynecologic pathology for physicians. None of the existing birth control methods seems ideally adapted to the young: oran contraceptives, the only infallible method, may present adverse effects. Intrauterine devices may result in expulsion or infection. Diaphragms or spermicides are less effective and not always well accepted by young girls. The physician, however, must bear in mind that whatever inconvenience may result, birth control is always preferable to an unwanted pregnancy or to abortion. Given the seemingly growing incidence of veneral disease and of abnormalities of cervical cytology, physicians must exercise the utmost care and consider a birth control consultation by a young girl as a full medical act.

Online source: www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=39828&dopt=Abstract birth control