Ethinyl Estradiol

Ethinyl Estradiol

“…The induction of labor with ethinyl estradiol was reported by Birnberg et al (17) in 1947, and indeed this effect was predicted in an editorial in the British Medical Journal (46) in 1938. Birnberg and associates (17) used ethinyl estradiol in 49 women at or near term: to induce labor in 15, and to hasten a nonprogressive labor in 34.…”

“…Ethinyl estradiol has been reported to have been prescribed in practically every situation for which oral estrogens are therapeutically utilized currently; as for example, for relief of menopausal symptoms (9 and 17-31); the production of withdrawal bleeding in amenorrhea (4,11,12,32,33,34); the relief of dysmenorrhea (35); the treatment of acne (36); the prevention of lactation and of breast engorgement in the puerperium (17,37); therapeutic suppression of cancer of the prostate in men (38)(39)(40)(41)(42)(43)(44) and of the breast in elderly women (45); also, it is now being used in various experimental situations, one of which is the induction of labor (17).…”

“…(17) reported further efforts on suppression of lactation in 145 non-nursing and in 26 nursing mothers. The treatment was started within twenty-four hours after delivery, with the administration of two tablets (each 0.05 mg.) three times daily during the first three days; one tablet, three times daily during the next three days; and one tablet once daily during the last three days.…”

“…When the dosage of ethinyl estradiol in women is increased above 0.10 mg. per day, there is an increasing incidence (8,(17)(18)(19)(20)(21)(22)(23)(24)(25)(26)(48)(49)(50)(51) of undesirable actions, such as gastro-intestinal upsets (nausea or vomiting, which come on soon after the initial high dose), headaches, congestive vaginal bleeding (which occurs variably after a number of weeks of treatment), tingling and sensitivity of the breasts and nipples and, with extreme doses after prolonged treatment, marked pigmentation of the skin of nipples, abdomen, and axillae. In males, gastro-intestinal upsets are almost uniformly absent (38-41) even with higher dosages, but there is some tendency to gynecomastia (36,39,40,41), possibly less with this estrogen than with stilbestrol (39,40).…”

“…Pregnant women at term appear to tolerate large doses well, for Birnberg et al (17) have reported the administration of 0.3 mg. every two hours for a total of 15 doses, and observed no ill effects. Should one venture for special reasons to use high doses of this drug early in pregnancy it would be well to start with small dosages and increase only gradually, for in animals estrogen is toxic to the early fetus, and Dr. Olive Smith 5 has recently reported that stilbestrol in certain high doses may be toxic to the early human fetus.…”