Relationship of oral contraceptives and the intrauterine contraceptive devices to the regression of concentrations of the beta subunit of human chorionic gonadotropin and invasive complications after molar pregnancy.

One hundred ninety-four patients with pathologically confirmed molar pregnancy and intact uteri were studied prospectively. Group A included 177 patients in whom the beta subunit of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG-beta) declined to normal (less than 5 mlU/ml) without chemotherapy, whereas group B included 17 patients with invasive complications in the postmolar phase which necessitated the use of chemotherapy. Only women with intact uteri were included in the study. In group A, there were no significant differences in the human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) positive interval between women who used intrauterine contraceptive devices, barrier and other methods, and those who used oral contraceptives. Differences in the proportions of women in groups A and B who used the oral contraceptives and intrauterine contraceptive devices were not observed. However, the mean dosage of estrogen and the proportion of women who ingested more than 50 micrograms of estrogen were higher in group B. These data suggest that (1) the oral contraceptives with less than 50 micrograms of estrogen and the intrauterine contraceptive devices do not prolong the hCG-beta positive interval nor increase the risk of invasive complications in the postmolar phase which requires the use of chemotherapy; and (2) the dose of estrogen (in formulations that contain more than 50 micrograms) rather than the oral contraceptives per se may influence the risk of these postmolar complications.