Centchroman: is unsupervised long-term use warranted? Case report

Eur J Contracept Reprod Health Care. 2011 Oct;16(5):403-6. doi: 10.3109/13625187.2011.595851. Epub 2011 Jul 21.

Abstract

Objectives: Centchroman (Ormeloxifene) is a synthetic non-steroidal compound used as an oral and a post-coital contraceptive. It is currently under trial for treatment of breast cancer and postmenopausal osteoporosis. Centchroman has been reported to induce only minimal side effects and no hormonal imbalance.

Case: A young woman who used centchroman for a long time in an unsupervised fashion presented with menorrhagia, which was controlled with norethisterone. Her massively enlarged uterus showed extensive decidual changes in a hyperplastic endometrium, and diffuse microglandular cervical hyperplasia.

Conclusions: The case suggests a prominent oestrogenic effect of centchroman on the uterus. This could be a significant adverse effect related to prolonged therapy. Lengthy intake of centchroman requires medical surveillance and long-term studies are needed.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Centchroman / administration & dosage
  • Centchroman / adverse effects*
  • Contraceptives, Postcoital, Synthetic / administration & dosage
  • Contraceptives, Postcoital, Synthetic / adverse effects*
  • Diagnosis, Differential
  • Drug Administration Schedule
  • Estrogen Antagonists / administration & dosage
  • Estrogen Antagonists / adverse effects*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Menorrhagia / chemically induced
  • Menorrhagia / diagnosis*

Substances

  • Contraceptives, Postcoital, Synthetic
  • Estrogen Antagonists
  • Centchroman