In a double-blind trial comprising 66 patients we assessed the effect of metronidazole-nystatin vagitories on the prevention of bacterial vaginosis (BV) in women using IUD as a contraceptive method after an initial oral single dose of 2.0 g metronidazole and 7 days of intravaginal metronidazole-nystatin or placebo treatment. The prophylactic treatment consisted of metronidazole-nystatin or placebo vagitories applied at bedtime for 3 days after menstruation over 6 consecutive menstrual periods. The patients were randomized in two study groups: a treatment group of 32 patients (group A) and a placebo group of 34 patients (group B). The overall objective cure rate after the initial treatment was 97% in group A and 91% in group B. After 6 months of follow-up, the overall cumulative objective cure rate in group A was 100%, and 76% in group B. The single-dose oral treatment was well tolerated and no notable side effects were recorded.

The results of two open Finnish multicenter studies on the effects of two oral contraceptive combinations containing 0.150 mg desogestre1+0.030 mg ethinylestradiol (EE) and 0.150 mg desogestre1+0.020 mg EE respectively were comparatively evaluated, paying particular attention to efficacy, cycle control and tolerance. The two trials were carried out by 20 independent investigators and comprised a total of 270 women, 91 of whom used the0.150/0.030 mg desogestrel/EE combination for a total of 964 cycles in one trial and 179 the 0.150/0.020 mg desogestrel/EE combination for a total of 2096 cycles in the other trial. In addition the ovulation inhibiting effect of the combination with 0.020 mg EE (based on serum levels of LH, progesterone and 170-estradiol) was studied in 5 healthy fertile women. No pregnancies occurred in this study. Both combinations showed a good cycle control and were well tolerated. There were no marked differences between the two preparations with respect to bleeding patterns, body weight, side effects, or drug related drop-outs. The good efficacy of the lowest estrogen-dose combination was substantiated by the results of the hormone determinations: all 5 volunteers displayed an anovulatory treatment cycle. It is concluded that despite its lower estrogen content, the clinical use of the 0.150/0.020 mg desogestrel/EE combination is as good as that of the 0.150/0.030 mg desogestrel/EE combination.

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