• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
• /
• v.16 no.9
• /
• pp.3685-3690
• /
• 2015

Background: Low-dose oral contraceptives (OC) were approved by the Japanese Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare in 1999, yet despite their contraceptive and non-contraceptive health benefits, only 5% of the target population use them. Fear of increased cancer risk, particularly breast cancer, is one reason for this. Due to low OC uptake and low screening participation, a paucity of data is available on the risk of OC use and breast cancer in Japanese women. The present study investigated OC use and breast cancer risk, as well as menstrual, reproductive and family factors. Materials and Methods: This was a clinic-based case-control study of women aged 20-69yrs who had undergone breast screening between January 2007 and December 2013 in central Tokyo. In all, 28.8% of the participants had experience with OC use. Cases were 155 women with a pathologically confirmed diagnosis of breast cancer. Controls were the remaining 12,333 women. Results: Increased age was a significant risk factor for breast cancer (p<0.001). A lower risk was found in premenopausal women presently taking OC compared to never users (OR 0.45; 95% CI 0.22-0.90) after adjusting for age, parity and breast feeding, and a family history of breast cancer. Conclusions: Increased age rather than OC use had a greater effect on breast cancer risk. This risk may be decreased in premenopausal women with OC use, but further long-term prospective studies are necessary.

• The Korean Journal of Pharmacology
• /
• v.17 no.2
• /
• pp.69-74
• /
• 1981

Increased incidence of myocardial infarction, arteriosclerosis and hypertension in oral contraceptive steroids users has been recognized as serious problem. Evidence have been accumulated that oral contraceptive steroids cause an increase in serum lipid levels, mainly triglyceride as well as an increase in serum cholesterol concentration in some women. Effect of oral contraceptives on serum lipids have been predominantly confirmed in Europian and American women. It should be emphasized that effects of contraceptives may he influenced by differences in nutrition, climate, socioeconomic status and race. The present study was, therefore, attempted to determine the effect of oral contraceptive steroids on serum lipid levels in Korean women and also to demonstrate whether the duration of pill treatment may affect serum lipid levels. Ten women, who had never taken contraceptive steroids, served as a control. One hundred women on combined oral contraceptive steroids were grouped according to the duration of pill use: duration of less than one year(14 women), 1-2 years(12 women), 2-5 years(29 women), 5-10 years(33 women) and more than 10 years(13 women). Serum levels of cholesterol, phosholipid and triglyceride were measured by enzymatic method, Fiske-SubbaRow method and Sugiura method respectively. The results obtained are as follows; 1) Oral contraceptive steroids increased serum cholesterol concentration by 4.8% as compared with cholesterol value of control group. But this increase was not statistically significant. 2) As compared with control value, concentration of serum phospholipid in pill-treated women decreased by 14.3%, which was statistically significant (p<0.05). 3) Concentration of serum triglyceride in pill-treated women increased by 10.6% over control value, but this increase was not statistically significant. 4) Duration of pill-treatment did not affect serum concentrations of cholesterol, phospholipid and triglyceride. From the results mentioned above, it may be concluded that combined oral contraceptive steroids, at least used for subjects involved in this study, decreased serum phospholipid significantly, thereby influencing serum lipid concentration.

• Korean Journal of Health Education and Promotion
• /
• v.27 no.1
• /
• pp.1-8
• /
• 2010

Objectives: Human papillomavirus (HPV) infection is highly associated with cervical cancer. So, the modification of the risk factors of HPV infection is essential for prevention of cervical cancer. This study was performed to evaluate the risk factors of HPV infection. Methods: HPV test of 12,337 study population conducted using Hybrid-Capture II assay(HC-II) and self-administered questionnaires were collected. The study population was people who visited hospital-based medical screening center from January to December 2007 and all were female employees or employees' partner. Results: In logistic regression analysis, smoking and alcohol drinking were significant factors, with odds ratios of 1.328 (95% CI 1.010~1.746) and 1.644 (95% CI 1.309~2.066), respectively. Nutritional supplements was also significant factor, which odds ratio was 1.161 (95% CI 1.004~1.343). Oral contraceptives was positive association with HPV infection (odds ratio 2.108; 95% CI 1.217~3.652), whereas condom was negative association (odds ratio 0.851; 95% CI 0.740~0.979). Conclusion: HPV Prevalence of 12,377 study population was 11.4%. Smoking, alcohol drinking, nutritional supplements and oral contraceptives were possible risk factors of HPV infection, and condom had possible preventive effect on HPV infection. Further prospective and comprehensive studies about HPV risk factors are required.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Pharmacy
• /
• v.29 no.1
• /
• pp.33-44
• /
• 2019

Objective: This study attempts to gauge the necessity of contraceptive education for women defecting from North Korea (NKDWs). Methods: We conducted in-depth interviews with six NKDWs who had lived in the Republic of Korea (ROK) for more than three years, to understand the subjects' perceptions, experiences, and opinions regarding contraception. Thematic analyses were performed using qualitative data provided in the survey results. Results: Before their defections from North Korea, none of the NKDWs had received any sex education. Loop is the only contraceptive method available to married women in ROK. After defection, NKDWs were provided information about contraceptive options available in China, but they could not fully understand this information. Furthermore, the information they received was not accurate. Thus, NKDWs had a high need for contraceptive sex education. As per our survey, their preferred education method was at least 3 lessons plus 1 : 1 counseling, as necessary. Conclusion: This study indicates that a necessity exists for development of a sex education program for NKDWs to enhance their contraceptive knowledge. Thus, government and health managers have a role to play in developing such a program.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
• /
• v.13 no.4
• /
• pp.379-381
• /
• 1990

The effect of calcium gluconate on estrogen (estradiol) serum level as well as follicle stimulating hormone level was studied. Our results revealed that oral administration of calcium gluconate (100 mg/kg body wight) to adult non-pregnant female rabbits caused a significant increase of serum levels of estradiol and follicle stimulating hormone. On the other hand, oral contraceptive (Norminest tablets) decreased significantly follicle stimulating hormone serum level, while combined administration of calcium gluconate and oral contraceptive caused significant increase of serum level of follicle stimulating hormone compared with control values. Also, concurrent administration of calcium gluconate and Norminest tablet increased significantly the rate of conception compared with group recieved Norminest tablets only. These results indicated that combined administration of calcium and oral contraceptives must be cautiously.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
• /
• v.2 no.1
• /
• pp.23-59
• /
• 1969

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
• /
• v.41 no.1
• /
• pp.15-20
• /
• 2014

Objective: Combined oral contraceptives (COCs) have some adverse effects on the serum lipid profile. Because hyperlipidemia is one of the risk factors in cardiovascular diseases, lipid abnormalities should be evaluated in women consuming COCs. Vitamins E and C are known to have beneficial effects on serum lipid profiles. Therefore, in this study, we evaluated the effects of vitamins E and C on serum lipids in women using COCs. Methods: The study compared changes in lipid parameters with and without vitamin therapy in women consuming COCs compared to those of a control group (40 non-contraceptive users or NCU) for 4 weeks. Total cholesterol and triglyceride, low-density lipoprotein (LDL), and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) levels along with HDL/LDL ratios were measured for all participants. Results: COC users experienced significantly higher increases in the levels of triglycerides and LDL than non-users (p<0.05). However, no significant differences were noted in the total cholesterol and HDL levels. In the treated COC group receiving vitamins E and C, the HDL level and the HDL/LDL ratio increased and the LDL and triglycerides levels decreased significantly compared with those of the other groups. Conclusion: The results of our study indicate that supplementation with antioxidant vitamins E and C restores a normal lipid profile in COC users.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
• /
• v.3 no.3
• /
• pp.50-61
• /
• 1973

Despite the intensive family Planning program of the government, which has reduced the :average population growth to 2.0 percent in 1970, the continuing high fertility rates and poor family planning services in urban slum areas has been continually pointed out by various evaluation seminars. Thus, it was felt that a study of the current status of family planning in an urban slum population was needed. The aims of the study were to: (1) delineate the general characteristics of the urban slum population (2) discover the knowledge, attitudes, and practice of family planing. (3) determine what was felt to be the ideal number of children. (4) determine the status of induced abortion. A random stratified sample of 200 women was selected from a population of 3, 118 married women, 20-49 years of age, living in the Yonsei Community Health Project area and registered at the Yonhee Community Health Service Institute. The respondents were interviewed by the investigates, using a pretested questionary, from the period of October 1 to October 30, 1972. The findings of the Study were as follows: 1. Afore than half of the respondents were in the high fertility age group (25-34): of lower educational level (under primary School) : from rural areas: and with unstable sources of income. 2. The average respondent had 3.6 living children. 3. Most of the respondents had knowledge of contraceptive methods such as the Loop(78, 5%) and Oral pill (87.0%). 4. Seventy seven percent of the respondents recognized the Health Center as an available source for family planning. 5. About seventy percent of the respondents approved of family planning. 6. Eighty four point five percent of all the respondents answered that using contraceptives is harmful to maternal health. 7. Currently, 21.0 percent of the respondents were using contraceptives, while 40.0 percent of the respondents were current users or had used contraceptives. 5. Of the respondents who had ever stopped using contraceptives, 78.0 percent gave side effects as the reason they discontinued the method. 9. The average number of ideal children reported by the respondents was 3.5. 10. If they had only 2 daughters, 85.5 Percent of the respondents thought they must have more children. 11. Sixty nine point five percent of the respondents approved of induced abortion for unwanted pregnancies, while 34.5 percent of the respondents had experienced induced abortion for unwanted pregnancies. The mean number of induced abortion for unwanted pregnancies was 0.7. 12. The result of this study showed that such urban slum population would be one of the most important target of the family planning services, therefore further social-psychological researches with technical development on this area are recommended.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
• /
• v.32 no.5
• /
• pp.561-569
• /
• 1999

In the atherosclerotic subjects, arterial endothelial cell injury and plaque formation are suspected to be strong causable factors in developing acute coronary syndrome, and it was revealed that platelets have a very important role in this case. Women are exposed to atherosclerosis at a different degree after menopause or oral contraception. The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of endogenous and exogenous estrogen on the degree of platelet aggregation in platelet rich plasma(PRP) in twenty nonsmoking healthy Korean women for 12 weeks. The subjects were assigned to three groups: (1) eight women aged 49 to 60(yr) for the postmenopausel(Pst) group, (2) eight, aged 22 to 30(yr) for the premenopausa(Pre) group, (3) four, aged 23 to 30(yr) for the oral contraceptive (OC) group which used triphasic OC formulation. Fasting blood sample were obtained from the subjects, (1) once per 6 weeks in the Pst group, (2) every phase of the menstrual cycle in the Pre group, (3) each once during and after OC administration in the OC group. ADP, collagen and epinephrine were used as aggregating reagents, and platelet aggregation and time(Δt: time reaching to the maximum point of aggregation) in PRP were measured at the maximum point of aggregation in five minutes. All the data were adjusted for dietary effects, personality type and body mass index(BMI) by using analysis of covariation(ANCOVA). Platelet aggregation to ADP and collagen(MADP and MCOLL) were not significantly different among the three groups, and Δt to ADP and collagen(TADP and TCOLL) were not either. But maximum platelet aggregability and Δt to epinephrine(MEPIN and TEPIN) were significantly different among the three groups, and the OC group showed the lowest value (p<0.01). Maxtimum platelet aggregability and Δt during the menstrual cycle were not significantly different in the Pre group. Any other significant differences in the maximum platelet aggregability and Δt were found between oral contraception phase and washing out phase(menstruation) in the OC group. In results, maximum platelet aggregability and aggregation time to ADP and collagen seemed not to be affected by endogenous and exogenous estrogen, even though MEPIN and TEPIN showed significantly low in the OC group among the three groups.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
• /
• v.43 no.4
• /
• pp.228-232
• /
• 2016

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of pretreatment with transdermal estradiol ($E_2$) compared to oral contraceptive pills (OCPs) on controlled ovarian stimulation (COS) response in normal responders undergoing fresh in vitro fertilization (IVF)-embryo transfer (ET) cycles. Methods: A retrospective cohort study was performed of normal responders undergoing fresh IVF-ET cycles who received pretreatment with transdermal $E_2$ versus OCPs prior to fresh IVF-ET. The total days of ovarian stimulation, total dosage of gonadotropins, total number of oocytes, and mature oocytes retrieved were noted. Pregnancy outcomes after ET were also recorded. Results: A total of 2,092 patients met the inclusion criteria: 1,057 and 1,035 patients in the transdermal $E_2$ and OCP groups, respectively. Patients in the OCP group had a longer duration of COS ($10.7{\pm}1.63days$, p< 0.01) than the $E_2$ group ($9.92{\pm}1.94days$). Patients in the OCP group also required higher cumulative doses of gonadotropins ($2,657.3{\pm}1,187.9IU$) than those in the $E_2$ group ($2,550.1{\pm}1,270.2IU$, p= 0.002). No statistically significant differences were found in the total and mature oocytes retrieved or in the rates of biochemical pregnancy, clinical pregnancy, spontaneous miscarriage, and live birth between the groups. Conclusion: Our findings suggest that compared to OCPs, pretreatment with transdermal $E_2$ is associated with a shorter duration of ovarian stimulation and lower gonadotropin utilization, without compromising the oocyte yield or pregnancy outcomes in normal-responder patients undergoing fresh IVF.