Acceptability of an oral contraceptive that reduces the frequency of menstruation: the tri-cycle pill regimen British Medical Journal, 1977, 2, 487-490 Summary The frequency of menstruation was reduced to once every three months in 196 women by the continuous administration of the oral contraceptive pill, Minilyn, for 84 days (tri-cycle regimen). No pregnancies occurred. One hundred and sixty-one women (82%) welcomed the reduction in the number of periods with the as- EHl 2QW A L GUILD, MA, research technician R V SHORT, SCD, FRS, director sociated freedom from menstrual and premenstrual symptoms, and many. found the tri-cycle regimen easier to follow. Weight gain -of more than 2 kg, irregular cycle control, especially in the -first three months, breast tenderness, and. headaches were the main side effects. Menstrual loss was unchanged or reduced in all but seven women. The doctors and nurses on the clinic staff were less-enthusiastic about this regimen than the volunteers themselves.

Summary and conclusionsWomen attending a family planning clinic were studied to determine the relation between cervical erosion and clinical and social characteristics. The appearance of the cervix was recorded without knowledge of the women's symptoms.The prevalence of erosion increased with parity but, when the effects of other factors were controlled, decreased in women aged 35 and over. Erosion was significantly more common in women taking the "pill" and less common in women using barrier methods of contraception than in others. There was considerable variation between doctors in the reporting of erosion. No association was found between erosion and postcoital bleeding, dyspareunia, backache, or dysuria. There was a significant but modest association between erosion and vaginal discharge and a suggestion that erosion may sometimes be associated with nocturia and frequency of micturition. Vaginal flora was similar in women with and without erosion.Cervical erosion should not be regarded as pathological in asymptomatic women, nor should it be assumed necessarily to be the cause of symptoms in women with genitourinary complaints.

Summary and conclusionsVaginal swabs were taken from 1498 women attending a family planning clinic. The flora was assessed in the absence of any information about the women to whom the swabs related. Yeasts and fungi were present in 311 women (21 %) and were no more prevalent among "pill" users than others. Candida albicans was significantly associated with vulval itching and with a vaginal discharge described as heavier than normal or curdy on clinical examination, though these abnormalities were present in only a minority of women with the organism. Trichomonas vaginalis was found in 14 women (1 %) and was associated with abnormalities of vaginal discharge in all but one. Gram-negative anaerobic bacilli were significantly more common in women with a troublesome vaginal discharge and those who used an intrauterine device than others. No associations were found between fungi other than C albicans or the other bacteria sought and either symptoms or clinical abnormalities of vaginal discharge.Introduction Information about the normal vaginal flora is needed when assessing the pathogenic role of organisms in women with genito-

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Summary. Progresssively motile spermatozoa were present in 42/47 (89%) of post \ x=r eq-\ vasectomy specimens, and in 16 of 24 samples (66%) demonstrable fertilizing potential could be detected in the zona-free hamster egg assay. The mean \m=+-\ s.e.m. post \ x=req-\ vasectomy penetration rate of 20\m=.\6 \m=+-\6\m=.\0%was, however, significantly lower (P < 0\m=.\001) than the pre-vasectomy value of 49\m=.\7 \m=+-\6\m=.\4%. After vasectomy the concentration of motile spermatozoa in the ejaculates declined in a manner that was significantly correlated with the post-operative time interval. The spermatozoa also lost their potential for fertilization, although functionally competent spermatozoa were still being recovered from ejaculates produced 8 days after vasectomy.These results emphasize the ability of human spermatozoa to retain some residual fertilizing potential when stored at core body temperature in sites distal to the epididymis, and suggest a role for functional tests in the management of the vasectomized male.