Primodos

A historical overview of Primodos, a hormonal pregnancy test

Overview

Primodos was a hormonal pregnancy test used in the 1960s and 1970s. It was manufactured by the German pharmaceutical company Schering AG. The test was administered in the form of tablets containing high doses of norethisterone and ethinylestradiol, which are synthetic forms of the hormones progesterone and estrogen, respectively.

Mechanism of Action

Primodos worked by inducing a hormonal response in the body. The presence of pregnancy hormones would alter the body's reaction to the synthetic hormones in the tablets, leading to a withdrawal bleed if the woman was not pregnant. If the woman was pregnant, the hormonal changes would not induce a bleed, thus indicating a positive pregnancy result.

Historical Context

Primodos was introduced in the 1950s and became widely used in the 1960s and 1970s. At the time, it was one of the few available methods for early pregnancy testing. However, it was eventually withdrawn from the market due to concerns about its safety.

Safety Concerns

In the late 1970s, studies began to suggest a potential link between the use of Primodos and congenital malformations in children born to mothers who had used the test. These concerns led to increased scrutiny and eventually to the withdrawal of the product from the market.

Controversy

The controversy surrounding Primodos has persisted for decades. Many families have claimed that the use of Primodos during pregnancy led to birth defects in their children. Investigations and reviews have been conducted to assess the validity of these claims, but the results have been inconclusive.

Regulatory Actions

In 1978, the Committee on Safety of Medicines in the UK issued a warning against the use of hormonal pregnancy tests, including Primodos. This led to a significant decline in their use and eventual discontinuation.

Legacy

The Primodos case has had a lasting impact on drug regulation and the monitoring of drug safety. It highlighted the need for rigorous testing and post-market surveillance of pharmaceuticals to ensure patient safety.

Related Pages

• Hormonal pregnancy test
• Norethisterone
• Ethinylestradiol
• Congenital disorder
• Drug safety

Primodos

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  Norethisterone

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  Ethinylestradiol

Primodos

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  Norethisterone

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  Ethinylestradiol