Re: Oral contraceptives and venous thromboembolism
On second thoughts we realized that the estradiol (the hormone) would get distributed in the whole body fluids (The ECF or extra cellular fluid which is 15 litres), rather than just blood alone. So instead of blood we have to calculate the estradiol content in the larger compartment, i.e. ECF. So we replace the amount of 4000 ml by 15,000 ml (inclusive of blood volume) and the normal values of estrogen measured in blood would be:
20 microgram (the content of oestrogens in combined oral contraceptives ranges from 20 micrograms to 50 micrograms per tablet)
X 10X10X10X10X10X10 (i.e 10 raised to power 6)
X 1/15,000 ml (the ECF) = 1333 picogram/ml.
The normal levels of oestrogen (estradiol primarily) range in blood as 20-400 picogram per ml.
SO EVEN WITH THIS CALCULATION THE AMOUNT OF OESTROGEN IS MORE THAN 3 TIMES OF HIGHEST VALUE OF PHYSIOLOGICAL AMOUNT, VIZ. 400 PICOGRAM PER ML. PRESENT IN BODY. And this is stil a high concentration to inhibit the ovulation. So, in order to avoid side effects e.g. VTE, breast cancer, weight gain we can easily reduce the amount further.
Rapid Response:
Re: Oral contraceptives and venous thromboembolism
On second thoughts we realized that the estradiol (the hormone) would get distributed in the whole body fluids (The ECF or extra cellular fluid which is 15 litres), rather than just blood alone. So instead of blood we have to calculate the estradiol content in the larger compartment, i.e. ECF. So we replace the amount of 4000 ml by 15,000 ml (inclusive of blood volume) and the normal values of estrogen measured in blood would be:
20 microgram (the content of oestrogens in combined oral contraceptives ranges from 20 micrograms to 50 micrograms per tablet)
X 10X10X10X10X10X10 (i.e 10 raised to power 6)
X 1/15,000 ml (the ECF) = 1333 picogram/ml.
The normal levels of oestrogen (estradiol primarily) range in blood as 20-400 picogram per ml.
SO EVEN WITH THIS CALCULATION THE AMOUNT OF OESTROGEN IS MORE THAN 3 TIMES OF HIGHEST VALUE OF PHYSIOLOGICAL AMOUNT, VIZ. 400 PICOGRAM PER ML. PRESENT IN BODY. And this is stil a high concentration to inhibit the ovulation. So, in order to avoid side effects e.g. VTE, breast cancer, weight gain we can easily reduce the amount further.
Competing interests: No competing interests