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In a previous study EEG abnormalities were detected in 2 of 24 healthy women during the 1st 3 months of treatment with various ovulatory and anovulatory contraceptive regimens. The present study is a follow up of the same group of women to detect possible EEG abnormalities occurring at the 6th and 12th months of treatment and those occurring within the 1st month after discontinuation of contraception. Only 17 women were studied (the 7 others were excluded due to voluntary treatment termination and pregnancy); they were divided into groups: 1) coil (5 cases) 2) microdoses (5 cases) and 3) sequential (4 cases) and combined (3 cases). In each case 3 consecutive pairs of routine EEG recordings (during the 6th and 12th months of contraceptive treatment and within 1st month of contraceptive discontinuation) and an equal number of plasma samples for progesterone/17 beta estradiol determination were taken. EEG routine recordings were also practiced during menstruation and during sleep. Procedures for routine EEG recordings and interpretation hormone determination standardization of dates and statistical significance of changes along the menstrual cycle were done as in the previous study. 4 of 7 patients in group 3 (the anovulatory sequential and combined contraceptive regimen) exhibited subclinical pseudoparoxysmal EEG discharges at the 6th and 12th months of treatment. These abnormalities may be due to the effect of specific hormone content of these particular compounds as they were not seen in control records taken before and after treatment and were seen on dates corresponding to the secretory phase of ovulatory cycles and concomitant to hormonal changes reflecting ovarian inhibition. In the coil group no abnormal EEG signs were observed in patients before during and after the regimen. 1 patient in the microdose group was found to have EEG abnormalities but the abnormalities were not attributed to the hormone content of the compound as abnormal EEG signs were found before and after treatment and were not concomitant to ovarian inhibition. No EEG abnormalities were observed in records taken during menstruation and during sleep of all the subjects. more...