“One A Month” Pill May Be Developed

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30536, 3 September 1964, Page 2

“One A Month” Pill May Be Developed

A.-Reuter—Copyright)

LONDON, September 1.

A “one a month” contraceptive pill may come from research now being carried out in Britain, a doctor said today.

Another possibility was a pill to be taken after intercourse, Dr. Vladimir Petrow, director of research and development for British drug houses, told the British Association for the Advancement of Science conference at Southampton. He said both these possibilities came from the discovery of a new compound called claudogens. Research with mice had shown the compound stopped ovulation and the implantation of the fertilised egg in the womb. Many Tears Ahead But Dr. Petrov warned: “Such claudogens are not yet round the corner. Many years of patient research work and the expenditure of vast sums of money will be required to make this dream a reality.” To critics of the contraceptive pill who complained that it was an unnatural interference with a women’s reproductive system, he said that while Western woman would have only a few pregnancies

in her life, her primitive sister in the bush would have pregnancy after pregnancy in rapid succession until she could no longer bear chldren. For her, ovulation was inhibited by glandular products like those in the pill or else by her milk mechanism. But there was no evidence that this was harmful. A good case could be made out to support the view that the Inhibition of ovulation was more natural than the present pattern and that regular menstruation was an artificial product .of our civilisation, Dr. Petrow added.

Farewell Social.—The West of England Women’s Association recently held a social afternoon to bid farewell to Mrs M. Logan, who will leave shortly on a visit to England. Mrs G. Trueman presided and presented Mrs Logan with flowers and a gift. Competition winners were Mesdames O’Connor and M. Watts.