An international venture was launched in 1985 to fill a recognized gap in post-marketing surveillance of fertility-regulating methods. For this purpose a new task force was set up by the Special Programme of Research, Development, and Research Training in Human Reproduction, which is cosponsored by the United Nations Development Programme, the United Nations Population Fund, the World Bank, and WHO. Research priorities were chosen and epidemiological studies inaugurated, involving a total of 47 countries--mostly from the developing world. Important progress has been made, especially in helping to define the beneficial and possible adverse effects of oral contraceptives on the risk of neoplasia; in showing that the injectable contraceptive depot-medroxyprogesterone acetate protects against endometrial cancer and does not increase the overall risk of breast cancer, in clarifying which groups of women are susceptible to the rare cardiovascular complications of oral contraceptives (myocardial infarction, stroke, and venous thromboembolism); and in establishing the long-term effectiveness and safety of intrauterine devices. The research has already made a significant impact on family planning policies and practice. Critical appraisal of this venture, which has been modestly funded, confirms the value of mission-oriented research. It also illustrates the potential of collaboration that bridges the global divide between developing and developed countries.
PIP: This article concerns the essential findings of the task force created by the Special Programme of Research, Development, and Research Training in Human Reproduction in 1985 to conduct research on the safety and efficacy of fertility-regulating methods. The task force had 9 research priorities which include: 1) effects of contraceptive use during lactation; 2) pelvic inflammatory disease and contraception; 3) cardiovascular disease and hormonal contraception; 4) cancer and hormonal contraception; 5) interactions between contraceptive use and disease; 6) morbidity due to female sterilization; 7) induced abortion; 8) safety of Norplant; and 9) IUDs. It then established epidemiological studies in 47 countries, which were mostly from the developing world. Some main achievements were: 1) identification of the beneficial and possible adverse effects of oral contraceptives (OCs) on the risk of neoplasia; 2) demonstrating that injectable depot-medroxyprogesterone acetate protects against endometrial cancer and does not increase the overall risk of breast cancer; 3) clarifying which groups of women are prone to the complications of OCs; and 4) establishing the long-term effectiveness and safety of IUDs. Furthermore, the valuable information produced by this research program has already had a significant impact on family planning policies and practice. This venture also strengthens the value of mission-oriented research and demonstrates the potential of collaborative research between developing and developed countries.