Cycle characteristics after discontinuation of oral contraceptives.

Nearly 60% of the women between 20 and 40 years of age who do not want to conceive choose oral contraceptives (OCs) for contraception in Germany. In an ongoing prospective study on the use of natural family planning in Germany, 175 women have been observed for 3,048 cycles immediately after having discontinued OCs (post-pill group). They were compared to a control group of 284 women observed for 6,251 cycles, who had never taken OCs. Both groups were comparable in age and sociodemographic characteristics. After discontinuing OCs, 57.9% of all first cycles were ovulatory with sufficient luteal phases. However, for the total post-pill group the cycle length was significantly prolonged up to the ninth cycle. A significantly higher number of luteal phases were insufficient in the post-pill group. Major cycle disturbances (cycle length > 35 days or luteal phase of < 10 days of elevated basal body temperature or anovulatory cycles) were significantly more frequent in the post-pill group up to the seventh cycle. Cycle disturbances after discontinuing OCs were reversible but the time of regeneration took up to 9 months (significant) or even longer (not significant). These results will help to counsel couples who wish to conceive after discontinuing OCs or who want to continue contraception with alternative methods.

Structure of the human gene encoding the phosphorylase kinase beta subunit (PHKB).

We have determined the cDNA sequence and the gene structure of the human phosphorylase kinase beta subunit (PHKB). With 95% amino acid sequence identity, the predicted primary structure is highly similar to that of the rabbit beta subunit. At least 140 kilonucleotides in length, the gene is large and consists of 33 exons. Exons 26 and 27 are two homologous, mutually exclusively spliced exons in the middle of the gene, and exon 2 is a facultatively utilized cassette exon encoding an alternative N-terminus of the beta subunit. The previous assignment of the PHKB gene to chromosome 16 is confirmed by the successful screening of a chromosome 16-specific genomic library. Plaque hybridization at reduced stringency led to the isolation of two processed pseudogenes, PHKBP1 and PHKBP2, but of no other PHKB-related sequences.