Effects of norgestimate in combination with ethinyl estradiol on cervical mucus

The tear ferning test: a simple clinical technique to evaluate the ocular tear film

A healthy tear film is very important for many major functions of the ocular surface. Dry eye disease is a significant clinical problem that needs to be solved but the poor correlation between clinical signs and reported symptoms makes it difficult for the clinician to apply a scientific basis to his clinical management. The problem is compounded by the difficulties of evaluating the tear film due to its transparency, small volume and complex composition. Practical insight into tear film composition would be very useful to the clinician for patient diagnosis and treatment but detailed analysis is restricted to expensive, laboratory-based systems. There is a pressing need for a simple test. The tear ferning test is a laboratory test but it has the potential to be applied in the clinic setting to investigate the tear film in a simple way. Drying a small sample of tear fluid onto a clean, glass microscope slide produces a characteristic crystallisation pattern, described as a 'tear fern'. This test is currently not widely used because of some limitations that need to be overcome but several studies have demonstrated its potential. Such limitations need to be resolved so that tear ferning could be used in the clinic setting to assess the tear film.

Effects of norgestimate (0.250 mg) in combination with ethinyl estradiol (0.035 mg) on cervical mucus

The antifertility effect of norgestimate (Ng), 0.250 mg, in combination with ethinyl estradiol (EE), 0.035 mg, on cervical mucus was investigated. The study was conducted over two consecutive cycles: a control cycle followed by a study cycle during which medication was given. Basal body temperature, cervical mucus and karyopyknotic index of vaginal cells were evaluated during both cycles. Disappearance of cyclicity of these parameters in the study cycle as well as monophasic basal body temperature were suggestive of inhibition of ovulation caused by the combination pill. Deterioration of sperm penetration may be reflective of anovulation and a direct antifertility effect of Ng on cervical mucus.