DEPOT-MEDROXYPROGESTERONE ACETATE (DMPA) AND CANCER - MEMORANDUM FROMA WHO MEETING

Authors
BOYLE P CHILVERS C FERRAZ E HULKA B KING R LAVECCHIA C PETITTI D LUMBIGANON P SKEGG D THOMAS D VIEGAS O JORDAN A FORTNEY J PETERSON H RAMACHANDRAN P SPIRTAS R LANDE R BATHIJA H MEHTA S MEIRIK O
Citation
P. Boyle et al., DEPOT-MEDROXYPROGESTERONE ACETATE (DMPA) AND CANCER - MEMORANDUM FROMA WHO MEETING, Bulletin of the World Health Organization, 71(6), 1993, pp. 669-676
Citations number
40
Categorie Soggetti
Public, Environmental & Occupation Heath
Journal title
Bulletin of the World Health Organization → ACNP
ISSN journal
00429686
Volume
71
Issue
6
Year of publication
1993
Pages
669 - 676
Database
ISI
SICI code
0042-9686(1993)71:6<669:DA(AC->2.0.ZU;2-Q
Abstract
Depot-medroxyprogesterone acetate (DMPA) is a long-acting progestation al contraceptive, which is administered by injection. It was developed in the mid-1960s, when it was seen as a method that would be particul arly useful for women seeking reversible contraception who had difficu lty taking a pill every day. DMPA has been shown to be a highly effect ive contraceptive, and it has proved acceptable in a variety of settin gs. The drug is licensed as a contraceptive in more than 90 countries and has been widely used in a number of them, such as Thailand and New Zealand. On a worldwide basis, the licensing, acceptability, and prev alence of use have been influenced by concern that DMPA may increase t he risk of cancer. Cancer of the breast has been a particular concern. This Memorandum reviews comprehensively the results of toxicological tests in animals and epidemiological studies in humans concerning the carcinogenicity of DMPA.