Post-coital agents and menses inducing drugs.
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Date
1984-07
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Abstract
The importance of developing of drugs which could be taken post-coitally or used
once-a-month in the case of a delay in the onset of the menses is well recognized. The
availability of such technology would limit exposure to fertility regulating agents to such
occasions where there is coital exposure or possibility of pregnancy.
Methods of post-coital contraception used so far include IUD's inserted post-coitally,
estrogens, and combinations of estrogens and gestagens. These are reserved primarily for
emergency situations to protect women from unwanted pregnancy resulting from rape or
unprotected coitus. Levonorgestrel has shown satisfactory results in terms of contraceptive
efficacy and is being further evaluated clinically. A number of problems inherent in the
development of post-coital contraception are discussed.
Menstrual regulation could be achieved by a number of approaches: (a) block progesterone
receptors and interfere with the preparation of the endometrium for implantation;
(b) luteolysis leading to decreased progesterone levels and interruption of implantation; and
(c) termination of early pregnancy by prostaglandins. A number of progesterone antagonists
have been evaluated. One of the compounds, RU38486 is being evaluated clinically for
termination of very early pregnancy.
Deglycosylated derivatives of human chorionic gonadotropin have been shown to
antagonize the action of human chorionic gonadotropin and interfere with established
pregnancy in rats. Appropriate methods of delivery, immunogenicity and alternate methods
for production of human chorionic gonadotropin need to be considered before evaluation of
the derivatives for clinical use.
In vitro and in vivo models need to be developed for evaluation of the teratogenicity and
embryotoxicity of post-coital and menses inducing agents.
There are a number of gaps in the knowledge of the processes regulating implantation which
should be investigated in rodents and in different non-human primate species.
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Keywords
Contraceptives, abortifacients, antiprogesterone, antiestrogens
Citation
Prasad M R N. Post-coital agents and menses inducing drugs. Journal of Biosciences. 1984 July; 6(suppl_2): s107-s119.