Fertility and Sterility
Volume 84, Issue 1 , Pages 46-51 , July 2005

Pharmacokinetics and endometrial tissue levels of levonorgestrel after administration of a single 1.5-mg dose by the oral and vaginal route

  • Luigi Devoto, M.D.

      Affiliations

    • Instituto de Investigaciones Materno Infantil (IDIMI) and Departamento de Obstetricia y Ginecologia, Medical Faculty, Hospital San Borja Arriaran, University of Chile, Santiago, Chile
    • Corresponding Author InformationReprint requests: Luigi Devoto, M.D., Instituto de Investigaciones Materno Infantil Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Chile, PO Box 226-3, 6519100 Santiago, Chile (FAX: 56-2-424 7240
    • ,
  • Ariel Fuentes, M.D.

      Affiliations

    • Instituto de Investigaciones Materno Infantil (IDIMI) and Departamento de Obstetricia y Ginecologia, Medical Faculty, Hospital San Borja Arriaran, University of Chile, Santiago, Chile
    • ,
  • Alberto Palomino, M.D.

      Affiliations

    • Instituto de Investigaciones Materno Infantil (IDIMI) and Departamento de Obstetricia y Ginecologia, Medical Faculty, Hospital San Borja Arriaran, University of Chile, Santiago, Chile
    • ,
  • Alejandra Espinoza

      Affiliations

    • Instituto de Investigaciones Materno Infantil (IDIMI) and Departamento de Obstetricia y Ginecologia, Medical Faculty, Hospital San Borja Arriaran, University of Chile, Santiago, Chile
    • ,
  • Paulina Kohen, B.S.

      Affiliations

    • Instituto de Investigaciones Materno Infantil (IDIMI) and Departamento de Obstetricia y Ginecologia, Medical Faculty, Hospital San Borja Arriaran, University of Chile, Santiago, Chile
    • ,
  • Sirpa Ranta, M.Sc.

      Affiliations

    • Steroid Research Laboratory, Institute of Biomedicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
    • ,
  • Helena von Hertzen, M.D.

      Affiliations

    • Department of Reproductive Health and Research, World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland

Received 26 August 2004 ,Revised 21 January 2005 ,Accepted 21 January 2005.

References 

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  2. von Hertzen H , Piaggio G , Ding J , Chen J , Song S , Bartfai G , et al.   Low dose mifepristone and two regimens of levonorgestrel for emergency contraception (a WHO multicentre randomised trial) . Lancet . 2002;360:1803–1810
  3. Johansson E , Brache V , Alvarez F , et al.   Pharmacokinetic study of different dosing regimens of levonorgestrel for emergency contraception in healthy women . Hum Reprod . 2002;17:1472–1476
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  9. Miles R , Paulson R , Lobo R , Press M , Dahmoush L , Sauer M . Pharmacokinetics and endometrial tissue levels of progesterone after administration by intramuscular and vaginal routes (a comparative study) . Fertil Steril . 1994;62:485–490
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  11. Nilsson CG , Haukkamaa M , Vierola H , Luukkainen T . Tissue concentrations of levonorgestrel in women using a levonorgestrel-releasing IUD . Clin Endocrinol . 1982;17:529–536
  12. Juchem M , Pollow K . Binding of oral contraceptive progestogens to serum proteins and cytoplasmic receptor . Am J Obstet Gynecol . 1990;163:2171–2183
  13. Misao R , Itoh N , Mori H , Fujimoto J , Tamaya T . Sex hormone-binding globulin mRNA levels in human uterine endometrium . Eur J Endocrinol . 1994;131:623–629
  14. Mertens HJ , Heineman MJ , Koudstaal J , Theunissen P , Evers JL . Androgen receptor content in human endometrium . Eur J Obstet Gynaecol Reprod Biol . 1996;70:3–11
  15. Brache V , Blumenthal PD , Alvarez F , Dunson TR , Cochon L , Faundes A . Timing of onset of contraceptive effectiveness in Norplant Implant users II. Effect on the ovarian function in the first cycle of use . Contraception . 1999;59:245–251
  16. Humpel M , Wendt H , Pommerenke G , Weib C , Speck U . Investigation of pharmacokinetics of levonorgestrel to specific consideration of a possible first-pass effect in women . Contraception . 1978;17:207–220
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  18. Yeung WSB , Chiu PCN , Wang CH , Yao YQ , Ho PC . The effects of levonorgestrel on various sperm functions . Contraception . 2002;66:453–457
  19. Croxatto HB , Devoto L , Durand M , Ezcurra E , Larrea F , Nagle C , et al.   Mechanism of action of hormonal preparations used for emergency contraception (a review of the literature) . Contraception . 2001;63:111–121

 Supported by UNDP/UNFPA/WHO/World Bank Special Programme of Research, Development and Research Training in Human Reproduction, World Health Organization (Geneva, Switzerland) (project A25167) and the Chilean Research Council, CONYCYT-FONDAP (Santiago, Chile) project 15010006.

PII: S0015-0282(05)00581-9

doi: 10.1016/j.fertnstert.2005.01.106

Fertility and Sterility
Volume 84, Issue 1 , Pages 46-51 , July 2005

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