The History of Steroidal Contraceptive Development: The Progestins

Thirty years of mirena: A story of innovation and change in women’s healthcare

“…A number of technological developments and advances in the understanding of hormones between the 1930s and 1950s made the first steps toward a hormonal intrauterine system (IUS) possible; understanding of the effects of steroid hormones was advanced, progesterone was characterized and the first synthetic progestins (norethindrone/norethisterone) were developed. 8 Furthermore, materials such as polydimethylsiloxane were developed that allowed for the controlled release of drug substances over an extended period of time. 9 Progestin-containing IUSs were originally developed to reduce some of the adverse events associated with Cu-IUDs, such as heavy and/or prolonged bleeding, dysmenorrhea and expulsion.…”

Possible Effect of Extended Use of Hormonal Contraception on Increased Levels of Antiphospholipid Antibodies in Infertile Women

“…Mögliche Auswirkung der Langzeiteinnahme hormoneller Empfängnisverhütungsmittel auf den erhöhten Antiphospholipid-Antikörper-Spiegel bei unfruchtbaren Frauen with studies done in a rabbit model [3], the first combined HC was used in Great Britain in 1957. Since then, a large number of women of reproductive age have used HC with or without side effects [4]. Heterogeneous autoantibodies specific for negatively charged membrane phospholipids were detected in 1906 by Wassermann [5] in patients with syphilis, and immunochemically isolated by Pangborn [6].…”

Pituitary-gonadal axis: historical notes

“…The biochemist RE Marker was a key figure in the early days of gestagens. Perone [16] has given a vivid description of Marker's bold ventures in rural Mexico to provide new source for progesterone production in the form of a Mexican plant (cabeza de negro) from which he manufactured large amounts of the hormone at a fraction of the market price. This founded the basis of the company Syntex which became a major producer of steroids but which ultimately caused a good deal of grief to Marker.…”

“…Presumably because of the World War progress was slow. Manipulation of the steroid structure lead to 19-NOR gestagens (norethisterone, norethynodrel and norethylsterone) which had an augmented suppressive effect on pituitary gonadotropin secretion [16].…”