METHOD OF SCREENING FOR SIDE EFFECTS OF ANTICONCEPTIVES OR ESTROGEN AND/OR PROGESTERONE REPLACEMENTS OR SUPPLEMENTS

摘要

A method for screening for negative side effects of a sex steroid compound or composition in a subject, by carrying out an assay on the subject or on a sample derived from the subject determining whether an increase of the compound or composition on the level of an acute phase reactant or a metabolic derivative thereof has occurred since applying the compound or composition to the subject, said acute phase reactant being selected from the group consisting of positive Acute Phase Reactants (APRs) with the exclusion of ceruloplasmin and coagulation/thrombosis associated factors, whereby an increase in the level of the acute phase reactant is indicative of negative side effects. A sex steroid compound or composition characterised by a lower increase in APR level as determined in a manner according to the invention than a third generation oral contraceptive, said compound or composition not being a second generation oral contraceptive.