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ORAL CONTRACEPTION AND LIVER FLUKE DISEASE
Author(s) -
Chulacharit Ekachai,
Petchakit Vichien,
Rosenfield Allan G.
Publication year - 1972
Publication title -
bjog: an international journal of obstetrics and gynaecology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.157
H-Index - 164
eISSN - 1471-0528
pISSN - 1470-0328
DOI - 10.1111/j.1471-0528.1972.tb14219.x
Subject(s) - medicine , jaundice , pill , liver fluke , family planning , incidence (geometry) , disease , gynecology , population , physiology , obstetrics , gastroenterology , research methodology , helminths , immunology , environmental health , physics , optics , pharmacology
Summary Opisthorchis Viverrini (liver fluke) infestation is endemic in certain parts of Thailand, where the incidence is as high as 90 per cent. Although the disease is essentially benign in man, there has been concern that oral contraception may be contra‐indicated in patients with this disease. In the present study no laboratory differences were found between a group of oral contraceptive users with positive stools and those with negative stools. The only minor abnormality found after oral contraceptive use was a slight increase in the bromsulphthalein retention values in both groups of patients as compared to a control group using intrauterine devices. No case of jaundice was seen in either group of pill acceptors. It is concluded that oral contraceptives are safe in patients with this parasitic disease.