The Pill

To the Editor:— A plea was made, "let's be honest with the pill." Regretfully, the manner in which the data were presented left room for wholly unwarranted conclusions. Thus, unintentionally perhaps, they were less than honest with "the pill." For example, of 24 patients seven received injectable medroxyprogesterone acetate—six of them for threatened abortion and one for irregular menses. This potent, longacting progestational agent is useful if employed in the management of endometriosis or metastatic endometrial carcinoma. There are few, if any, other indications. It should not be used indiscriminately because prolonged amenorrhea as well as prolonged withdrawal bleeding may follow... It is my considered opinion that this report was misleading. The inconsistencies are glaring, the choice of histological description, unfortunate. Let's not becloud the great benefits to be derived from the judicious use of orally administered contraceptives by magnifying and distorting the minor complications of therapy.