- Email: [email protected]
ITINERANT INTRAUTERINE DEVICES?
104 lowered by adrenolytic agents. They also explain the current vasoconstrictor theories of shock and justify attempts at prevention and treatment by the use of adrenolytic agents. Department of Anæsthesia, Charing Cross Hospital Medical School, London W.C.2.
D. A. BUXTON HOPKIN.
ORAL CONTRACEPTIVES AND DEPRESSION SIR,-Dr. Thakurdas (May 27, p. 1164) and Dr. McGregor (June 3, p. 1231) have mentioned their clinical impressions concerning the depression associated with the use of oral
contraceptives. I disagree with Dr. McGregor’s observation that depression is more commonly associated with the cestrogen/progestogen combinations than with the sequential contraceptives. At a recent meeting 1 this matter was discussed, and an incidence of 1-2°0 of depressions was reported associated with the administration of either type of oral contraceptive. Chlormadinone acetate, in a dosage of 0-5 mg. daily, has been reported to be an effective contraceptive agent,2 and so far there are no reports of depressions associated with its use.3 On the other hand, there has been a report showing that the incidence of menstrually related depressions decreased after long-term administration of oral contraceptives,4 and a more recent one emphasises both mood and behavioural changes associated with the use of oral contraceptives, although one of the conclusions is that there is not enough evidence to clarify these effects.55 I believe that the depression, and mood changes in general, associated with the use of oral contraceptives could be better understood if we study central-nervous-system effects of both oestrogens and progestogens. We are organising a project in this area. We are also going to test chlormadinone acetate against other oral contraceptives to evaluate the reported lack of depression associated with its administration.
knowledge of biology, wishing to make serious investigainvolving neuroanatomy, there would be a longer course, perhaps for one year. It would help greatly in planning such some
tions
if anyone interested in either of them would be so kind write to me. Such a communication would of course in no way constitute a commitment, but it would be of help to know how many are likely to be interested, say during the next two years, since it is intended to approach the Science Research Council for provision of support for suitable applicants." courses
as to
Parliament Long Days’ Nights early hours of July 4, after another all-night sitting continuing the proceedings of July 3, the third reading of Mr. LEO ABSE’s Sexual Offences (No. 2) Bill was carried by 85 IN the
The Bill will now go to the House of Lords. Mr. DAVID STEEL’S Medical Termination of Pregnancy Bill has so far been less fortunate. The debate began at 10.35 P.M. on June 29, and during the night the word " well-being " was deleted, with Government support, from clause 1 and a provision inserted that risk to other children of the family should be taken into account. But when the House rose somewhat wearily and acrimoniously, at 10.16 A.M. on June 30 no further tangible progress had been made, and clause 1 was still under discussion. Mr. ABSE’s success may make it easier for the Government to find extra time for Mr. STEEL’S measure. votes.
Family Planning
and the N.H.S.
The National Health Service (Family Planning) Act, which secures the provision of family-planning services by local health authorities, has received the royal assent.
Research Foundation of the
Washington Hospital Center, Washington, D.C. 20010.
J. CARRANZA-ACEVEDO.
ITINERANT INTRAUTERINE DEVICES? Dr. HILARY HILL and Dr. SARA ABELS (Family Planning Association, 231 Tottenham Court Road, London W.1) write: " Over 35,000 intrauterine devices (LU.D.S) have now been inserted at the 170 clinics of the Family Planning Association so far approved for this purpose. Usually the device has been a Lippes loop, but some Birnberg bows and ’ Saf-T-Coils’ have been fitted. Analysing a large international series, Tietze 6 reports that the Lippes loop escaped through the uterine wall in about 004°o of cases-usually without any apparent harm to the patient. We have not yet heard of the uterus being perforated during or after insertion of an I.U.D. in one of our clinics; but this has almost certainly happened from time to time. We should be grateful if gynxcologists or others would let us know of any such cases that have or may come to their notice."
NEUROANATOMY Prof.
Z.
Yourrc, F.R.S. (Department of Anatomy, J. University College London, Gower Street, London W.C.1), writes: The Department of Anatomy at University College, London, proposes to introduce courses in neuroanatomy. It is suggested that two levels are needed: (1) for those anxious to work in some other field of neurobiology (e.g., neurochemistry) such a course might be for three months; (2) for those with "
College of Clinical Pharmacology and Chemotherapy Meeting, Round-table on Oral Contraceptives, at Atlantic City, N.J., April 26-28,
1. American
1967. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6.
Martinez-Manautou, J. Fert. Steril. 1966, 17, 49. Martinez-Manautou, J. Personal communication. Kistner, R. W. Postgrad. Med. 1966, 39, 207. Glick, I. D. Psychopharmacologia, 1967, 10, 363. Tietze, C. Am. J. Obstet. Gynec. 1966, 96, 1043.
Social
Security
Local
Advisory Committees
Miss MARGARET HERBISON, Minister of Social Security, has made regulationsto set up a single set of about 150 local advisory committees to advise the Minister or the Supplementary Benefits Commission on the administration of the National Insurance, industrial-injuries, and supplementarybenefit schemes. The new committees will replace the National Insurance and social-security local advisory committees which ended on June 30.
QUESTION TIME Contraceptive Pill Mrs. JOYCE BUTLER asked the Minister of Health if he would take steps to require doctors to notify him of cases of thrombosis and other side-effects in women taking the contraceptive pill, so that a constant check can be kept on the risks involved.Mr. ROBINSON replied: Doctors have already been asked to notify the. Committee on Safety of Drugs where thrombosis and other adverse reactions are suspected to be associated with the taking of oral contraceptives; I do not think compulsory reporting is necessary but it is important that the committee should be informed. Mr. E. R. LUBBOCK: Is the Minister aware that some coroners who have not medical knowledge and who are not qualified in statistics have drawn wholly unjustified connections between the taking of the pill and death due to thrombosis ? In view of the public anxiety thus caused among many millions of women who are safely taking the pill, will he discourage these pronouncements by coroners ?-Mr. RoBINSON: I do not know about discouraging pronouncements by coroners, but I accept that there have been statements for which there has been a somewhat insufficient basis of fact. I made to the House a statement which helped to put the matter into perspective for these women who are taking oral contraceptives. 1. Social Security (Local Advisory Committees) 1967, no. 190). H.M. Stationery Office. 8d.
Regulations, 1967 (S.I.
D. A. BUXTON HOPKIN.
ORAL CONTRACEPTIVES AND DEPRESSION SIR,-Dr. Thakurdas (May 27, p. 1164) and Dr. McGregor (June 3, p. 1231) have mentioned their clinical impressions concerning the depression associated with the use of oral
contraceptives. I disagree with Dr. McGregor’s observation that depression is more commonly associated with the cestrogen/progestogen combinations than with the sequential contraceptives. At a recent meeting 1 this matter was discussed, and an incidence of 1-2°0 of depressions was reported associated with the administration of either type of oral contraceptive. Chlormadinone acetate, in a dosage of 0-5 mg. daily, has been reported to be an effective contraceptive agent,2 and so far there are no reports of depressions associated with its use.3 On the other hand, there has been a report showing that the incidence of menstrually related depressions decreased after long-term administration of oral contraceptives,4 and a more recent one emphasises both mood and behavioural changes associated with the use of oral contraceptives, although one of the conclusions is that there is not enough evidence to clarify these effects.55 I believe that the depression, and mood changes in general, associated with the use of oral contraceptives could be better understood if we study central-nervous-system effects of both oestrogens and progestogens. We are organising a project in this area. We are also going to test chlormadinone acetate against other oral contraceptives to evaluate the reported lack of depression associated with its administration.
knowledge of biology, wishing to make serious investigainvolving neuroanatomy, there would be a longer course, perhaps for one year. It would help greatly in planning such some
tions
if anyone interested in either of them would be so kind write to me. Such a communication would of course in no way constitute a commitment, but it would be of help to know how many are likely to be interested, say during the next two years, since it is intended to approach the Science Research Council for provision of support for suitable applicants." courses
as to
Parliament Long Days’ Nights early hours of July 4, after another all-night sitting continuing the proceedings of July 3, the third reading of Mr. LEO ABSE’s Sexual Offences (No. 2) Bill was carried by 85 IN the
The Bill will now go to the House of Lords. Mr. DAVID STEEL’S Medical Termination of Pregnancy Bill has so far been less fortunate. The debate began at 10.35 P.M. on June 29, and during the night the word " well-being " was deleted, with Government support, from clause 1 and a provision inserted that risk to other children of the family should be taken into account. But when the House rose somewhat wearily and acrimoniously, at 10.16 A.M. on June 30 no further tangible progress had been made, and clause 1 was still under discussion. Mr. ABSE’s success may make it easier for the Government to find extra time for Mr. STEEL’S measure. votes.
Family Planning
and the N.H.S.
The National Health Service (Family Planning) Act, which secures the provision of family-planning services by local health authorities, has received the royal assent.
Research Foundation of the
Washington Hospital Center, Washington, D.C. 20010.
J. CARRANZA-ACEVEDO.
ITINERANT INTRAUTERINE DEVICES? Dr. HILARY HILL and Dr. SARA ABELS (Family Planning Association, 231 Tottenham Court Road, London W.1) write: " Over 35,000 intrauterine devices (LU.D.S) have now been inserted at the 170 clinics of the Family Planning Association so far approved for this purpose. Usually the device has been a Lippes loop, but some Birnberg bows and ’ Saf-T-Coils’ have been fitted. Analysing a large international series, Tietze 6 reports that the Lippes loop escaped through the uterine wall in about 004°o of cases-usually without any apparent harm to the patient. We have not yet heard of the uterus being perforated during or after insertion of an I.U.D. in one of our clinics; but this has almost certainly happened from time to time. We should be grateful if gynxcologists or others would let us know of any such cases that have or may come to their notice."
NEUROANATOMY Prof.
Z.
Yourrc, F.R.S. (Department of Anatomy, J. University College London, Gower Street, London W.C.1), writes: The Department of Anatomy at University College, London, proposes to introduce courses in neuroanatomy. It is suggested that two levels are needed: (1) for those anxious to work in some other field of neurobiology (e.g., neurochemistry) such a course might be for three months; (2) for those with "
College of Clinical Pharmacology and Chemotherapy Meeting, Round-table on Oral Contraceptives, at Atlantic City, N.J., April 26-28,
1. American
1967. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6.
Martinez-Manautou, J. Fert. Steril. 1966, 17, 49. Martinez-Manautou, J. Personal communication. Kistner, R. W. Postgrad. Med. 1966, 39, 207. Glick, I. D. Psychopharmacologia, 1967, 10, 363. Tietze, C. Am. J. Obstet. Gynec. 1966, 96, 1043.
Social
Security
Local
Advisory Committees
Miss MARGARET HERBISON, Minister of Social Security, has made regulationsto set up a single set of about 150 local advisory committees to advise the Minister or the Supplementary Benefits Commission on the administration of the National Insurance, industrial-injuries, and supplementarybenefit schemes. The new committees will replace the National Insurance and social-security local advisory committees which ended on June 30.
QUESTION TIME Contraceptive Pill Mrs. JOYCE BUTLER asked the Minister of Health if he would take steps to require doctors to notify him of cases of thrombosis and other side-effects in women taking the contraceptive pill, so that a constant check can be kept on the risks involved.Mr. ROBINSON replied: Doctors have already been asked to notify the. Committee on Safety of Drugs where thrombosis and other adverse reactions are suspected to be associated with the taking of oral contraceptives; I do not think compulsory reporting is necessary but it is important that the committee should be informed. Mr. E. R. LUBBOCK: Is the Minister aware that some coroners who have not medical knowledge and who are not qualified in statistics have drawn wholly unjustified connections between the taking of the pill and death due to thrombosis ? In view of the public anxiety thus caused among many millions of women who are safely taking the pill, will he discourage these pronouncements by coroners ?-Mr. RoBINSON: I do not know about discouraging pronouncements by coroners, but I accept that there have been statements for which there has been a somewhat insufficient basis of fact. I made to the House a statement which helped to put the matter into perspective for these women who are taking oral contraceptives. 1. Social Security (Local Advisory Committees) 1967, no. 190). H.M. Stationery Office. 8d.
Regulations, 1967 (S.I.