Abstract

PIP: A clinical investigation using dienestrol on 30 fertile women ingesting it postcoitally in May 1967 was undertaken to determine the agent's effectiveness as a postcoital oral contraceptive (OC). The first group of 10 taking 10 mg following each intercourse yielded few side effects, only 1 case of permanent nausea and 1 of sporadic nausea, no pregnancies from a total of 50 cycles and regularity of menstrual cycles dependent upon frequency of intercourse. In the second group of 20 taking 2.5 mg dienestrol and .2 mg ethynodiol-diacetate for a total of 60 cycles, no pregnancies occurred despite repeated midcycle coitus, moderate nausea in all 3 cycles of 2 women and sporadically in 2 other women, breast discomfort in 6% of cycles and mostly regular cycles and "silent menstruation" in 5 patients as a result of more frequent pill use were noted. Relatively low doses can effectively prevent pregnancy with few side effects. Cycle disturbances occurring only if tablets are taken without interruption, can be prevented by taking 3 tablets of a combination of dienestrol with a low dose of highly potent progestogen following intercourse. More study is needed, but this OC might be the method of choice for some.