Postcoital contraception with levonorgestrel during the peri-ovulatory phase of the menstrual cycle. Task Force on Post-ovulatory Methods for Fertility Regulation

The contraceptive efficacy and side effects of postcoital levonorgestrel used repeatedly during the peri-ovulatory period of one cycle was examined in 259 women. All subjects were of proven fertility in their present union and had ovulatory cycles as assessed from pre-treatment BBT charts. The mean number of coital acts during the treatment cycle was 7.5 (SD:2.6) and the mean number of 0.75 mg levonorgestrel tablets taken during the peri-ovulatory period was 4.0 (SD:1.2). Two pregnancies, both considered to be method failures, occurred, giving a failure rate of 0.8% per treated cycle. Although the overall effect of levonorgestrel on menstrual cycle length was small and insignificant, menstrual cycle disturbances were not uncommon. Intermenstrual bleeding or spotting occurred in 8.5% of the treated cycles and 12.5% of the cycles were less than 20 or more than 35 days. Other side effects, mainly nausea, headache and dizziness, were reported by about 20% of the subjects but the apparent incidence of these complaints varied markedly between the nine participating centres from 0% to just over 50%. The data suggest that repeated postcoital use of levonorgestrel is probably not a viable approach to fertility regulation for the majority of women who have regular intercourse and wish to limit the number of their pregnancies.     

The effect of naloxone on the preoperative gastric volume and pH

The effect of 4 mg oral naloxone on preoperative gastric volume and pH of gastric aspirate was studied in a double-blind, randomized study. Twenty patients received 10 ml of naloxone (4 mg) mixed with 10 ml of orange juice, and 20 patients received 10 ml of isotonic saline mixed with 10 ml of orange juice, 2 h before surgery. Gastric content was obtained immediately after intubation of the trachea. No significant difference in gastric volume and pH of gastric aspirate was found between the two groups. It is concluded that naloxone does not affect gastric emptying and gastric acid secretion to a degree great enough to protect against aspiration of gastric contents into the lungs.