Lower concentrations of chemotactic cytokines and soluble innate factors in the lower female genital tract associated with the use of injectable hormonal contraceptive

Internationally, hormonal contraceptives (HCs) are widely used by women to prevent unplanned pregnancies. In South Africa, more than half of women aged 15–49 years old use depot medroxyprogesterone acetate (DMPA) or norethisterone enanthate (Net-EN), with more than three times the number of women using DMPA than Net-EN (Sibeko et al., 2011, Department of Health, 2007). DMPA is an aqueous microcrystalline suspension (150mg/ml) administered by intramuscular depot injection every three months, while NET-EN injection contains 200mg/ml of norethisterone, which is effective for two months as contraception (Fraser and Weisberg, 1981).

Source: Journal of Reproductive Immunology - April 22, 2015 Category: Allergy & Immunology Authors: Sinaye Ngcapu, Lindi Masson, Sengeziwe Sibeko, Lise Werner, Lyle R. McKinnon, Koleka Mlisana, Muki Shey, Natasha Samsunder, Salim Abdool Karim, Quarraisha Abdool Karim, Jo-Ann S. Passmore Source Type: research