Further study on the effect of norethisterone enanthate, an injectable contraceptive on body functions.

ABSTRACT

One hundred and fortythree healthy Bengali women have received norethisterone enanthate, as injectable contraceptive in doses of 200 mg. intramuscularly at intervals of 10 to 12 weeks. The drug have been found to be almost 100 percent effective in the control of fertility. Menstrual disturbance, e.g. amenorrhoea, irregular bleeding and spotting, appeared to be the main complaints of the clients during the initial period of the therapy; but these did not persist long. There was no ill effect of the drug on lactation. No significant change in body weight, blood pressure, platelet count, fasting blood sugar, serum cholesterol and total plasma protein level was observed following administration of norethisterone enanthate over one year.

ABSTRACT

PIP This study examines the effects of 4 injections of norethisterone enanthate (in doses of 200 mg) on 143 healthy Bengali women aged 18 to 40 years old. Functional parameters (body weight, blood pressure, platelet count, fasting blood sugar, serum cholesterol and total plasma protein) were determined before each injection. The methods of Ali et al. (1976), Khalique (1973) and Oser (1965) were used to measure fasting blood sugar and serum cholesterol levels, platelet count, and total plasma protein, respectively. The drug proved to be almost 100% effective in preventing pregnancy. Main complaints of the patients were amenorrhea, irregular bleeding, and spotting. These complaints did not last very long. There were no adverse effects on lactation (58.7% of subjects were lactating mothers). Crude dropout rate was 23.4%, with most of the dropouts occurring after the 1st injection. There were no significant changes observed in body weight, blood pressure, platelet count, fasting blood sugar, serum cholesterol, and total plasma protein level following administration of the injectable contraceptive over the year.