Ormeloxifene, also known as centchroman, is one of the
selective estrogen receptor modulators,[2] or SERMs, a class of medication which acts on the
estrogen receptor. It is best known as a
nonsteroidaloral contraceptive which is taken once per week. In India, ormeloxifene has been available as
birth control since the early 1990s, and it was marketed there under the trade name Saheli,[3] currently available free-of-cost for the women in India as Chhaya (Centchroman).[4][5]
Ormeloxifene has also been licensed under the trade names Ormalin, Novex-DS, Centron, and Sevista.
Ormeloxifene may be used as a weekly oral contraceptive.[6] The weekly schedule is an advantage for women who prefer an oral contraceptive, but find it difficult or impractical to adhere to a daily schedule required by other oral contraceptives.
For the first twelve weeks of use, it is advised to take the ormeloxifene pill twice per week.[6] From the thirteenth week on, it is taken once per week.[6][7]
The consensus is that backup protection in the first month is a cautious but sensible choice. A standard dose is 30 mg weekly, but 60 mg loading doses can reduce pregnancy rates by 38%.[8]
Ormeloxifene is a
selective estrogen receptor modulator (SERM). In some parts of the body, its action is
estrogenic (e.g.,
bones), in other parts of the body, its action is
antiestrogenic (e.g.,
uterus,
breasts).[13][14][15] It causes an asynchrony in the
menstrual cycle between
ovulation and the development of the uterine lining, although its exact mode of action is not well defined. In clinical trials, it caused ovulation to occur later than it normally would in some women,[9] but did not affect ovulation in the majority of women, while causing the lining of the uterus to build more slowly. It speeds the transport of any fertilized egg through the
fallopian tubes more quickly than is normal.[9] Presumably, this combination of effects creates an environment such that if fertilization occurs, implantation will not be possible.[9]
Since 2018, Centchroman is provided free-of-cost to the women in India by the government under the brand name Chhaya.[4][18][19][20]
Society and culture
Marketing
As of 2009, ormeloxifene was legally available only in India.[21]
Ormeloxifene has been tested and licensed as a form of birth control, as well as a treatment for dysfunctional uterine bleeding.
manufactured by
Torrent Pharmaceuticals, and marketed as birth control under the trade name Centron. Centron was discontinued.
A new license for ormeloxifene was issued to
Hindustan Latex Ltd., which now manufactures ormeloxifene as birth control under the trade names Saheli, Novex, and Novex-DS.
Torrent Pharmaceuticals has resumed manufacture of ormeloxifene under the trade name Sevista, as a treatment for dysfunctional uterine bleeding.
^
ab"Chhaya". Centre for Health Informatics (CHI) of the National Health Portal (NHP), by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW). Government of India. Archived from
the original on 11 May 2021. Retrieved 29 June 2020.
^
abcdeSingh MM (July 2001). "Centchroman, a selective estrogen receptor modulator, as a contraceptive and for the management of hormone-related clinical disorders". Medicinal Research Reviews. 21 (4): 302–347.
doi:
10.1002/med.1011.
PMID11410933.
S2CID37474826.
^Kriplani A, Kulshrestha V, Agarwal N (August 2009). "Efficacy and safety of ormeloxifene in management of menorrhagia: a pilot study". The Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology Research. 35 (4): 746–752.
doi:
10.1111/j.1447-0756.2008.00987.x.
PMID19751337.
S2CID39172838.
^Kumar GR, Rituraj K, Hemant BK, Singh MM (November 2007). In-vitro anti-cancer breast activity of ormeloxifene is mediated via induction of apoptosis and autophagy. 37th annual conference of the endocrine society of India. Vol. 30. p. 35.
^Nigam M, Ranjan V, Srivastava S, Sharma R, Balapure AK (March 2008). "Centchroman induces G0/G1 arrest and caspase-dependent apoptosis involving mitochondrial membrane depolarization in MCF-7 and MDA MB-231 human breast cancer cells". Life Sciences. 82 (11–12): 577–590.
doi:
10.1016/j.lfs.2007.11.028.
PMID18279897.