Ru 486 Misconceptions Myths and Morals - ressourcesfeministes

Endnotesof menses. On the third day of RU 486 administration, 10minute frequent blood sampling for 10 hours was repeated in thesame four women. Each frequent blood sampling studywas performed after an overnight fast. One hour after insertionof an indwelling intravenous catheter, blood sampling wasbegun. Mealtimes were approximately 8:00 A.M., 12.00noon, and 5.00 P.M. Subjects were not allowed to smoke or sleepduring the frequent sampling’ (p. 643, our emphasis).15RU 486 has been found to inhibit fertilization in mice. Junejaand Dodson (1990) unsuccessfully tried to reverse the decreasedhCG production by adding progesterone (as suggested by Dasand Catt (1987) and conclude that, ‘The inhibition of fertilizationis mediated through a progester-one independent mechanismor the binding of progester-one is non-reversible’ (p. 220); seealso Yang and Wu, this chapter.16It is interesting to note that a number of prominent infertilityspecialists/IVF doctors also promote RU 486/PG and areinvolved in its research. Among them are: Gary Hodgen, USA;René Frydman, France; Allan Templeton, UK; David Healy,Australia. Their uncri tical attitudes towards the adverse effectsfrom fertility drugs are revisited in their praise for this latesttechnological ‘fix’.17To their surprise they also found that follicles developed duringthe administration of the antiprogestin NET: a result thatraises questions about the role of progesterone in follicledevelopment In addition they noted that no decline in theFSH and LH concentrations took place; a finding whichcontrasted with those of Shoupe et al., 1987; Nieman et al.,1986 and Di Mattina, 1987.18The manufacturers of clomiphene citrate, Merrill Dow (Clomid)and Serono (Serophene), state clearly that 50 mg per day is thepreferred dose which could be extended to 100mg, andoccasionally to 150 mg but for three days only. Administrationfor five days is thus clearly unacceptable. But even moreoutrageous is the fact that clomiphene, which has many provenshort- and long-term adverse effects, is administered to perfectlyhealthy ovulating women!129