Background: In the Philippines, the extent to which hormonal contraceptives (HC) are used for reasons other than birth control is unknown. This study aims to examine how Filipino women use HC for contraceptive and non-contraceptive indications. Methods: This is Project 1 of a descriptive cross-sectional study involving a hospital-based (Project 1) and community-based (Project 2) survey. The questionnaire is adapted from the Georgia Reproductive Health Survey (RHS) 2005 and The Fog Zone 2009 from Guttmacher Institute. A face-to-face questionnaire collected demographic information and issues related to knowledge, attitude and experience in HC use among 15-45-year old Filipino women (n=244) seen at the Gynecologic Outpatient Department of the Philippine General Hospital. Results: Filipino women showed positive attitudes towards efficacy and safety of HC, which positively correlated with patterns of use. Majority possessed little knowledge regarding OCPs (82%), injectables (56%), and IUDs (39%). The major reasons for HC use were contraception (46%) and menstrual regulation (26%). Pills (77%) were most commonly utilized. A doctor’s recommendation (67%) primarily influenced choice of HC. Four out of 10 reported some difficulty in HC use. Conclusion: Although with limited knowledge, Filipino women have positive attitude towards, and have utilized HC both for gynecologic and contraceptive purposes.
Contraceptive Agents ; Knowledge

The incidence rate of Myasthenia Gravis coexisting with other autoimmune diseases is approximately 8.7 – 25%, but it is rarely associated with premature ovarian insufficiency (POI) with only less than 1% of women affected. This is a case of premature ovarian insufficiency in a 29 year old woman diagnosed with Myasthenia Gravis, who presented with lower extremity weakness and experienced two episodes of myasthenic crisis requiring thymectomy. Three years after, she noted oligomenorrhea that quickly progressed to amenorrhea. Extensive immunologic and genetic investigative studies showed no identifiable cause for the POI, except for its close temporal relationship with the occurrence of Myasthenia Gravis. The patient has been responsive to hormone replacement and immunomodulation therapy, and has not developed any further episodes of myasthenic crisis. A review of seven other reported cases describing a similar condition was also included in the discussion.
Myasthenia Gravis