Abstract

PIP: In an investigation of the excretion of oral contraceptives in the milk of lactating women, tritiated norethynodrel (the progestin component of Enovid) was administered after 2 days of Enovid to 4 patients with stillbirths. An average of 1.1% (range .45-1.52%) of the radioactive norethynodrel was excreted in the breast milk; on the basis of 5.0 mg of norethynodrel per Enovid tablet this amounts to an excretion of 55 mg of the progestin and its metabolites. Since such products could affect the infant, caution is urged in administration of oral contraceptives during lactation.