ANTIFERTILITY ACTIVITY OF VARIOUS STEROIDS IN THE FEMALE RAT.

Antifertility activity of fifty-three steroids was studied in the adult, mated female rat. The steroids were given daily for 7 days beginning on the day of pro-oestrus. On Day 9 of the test implantation sites were counted. In most cases the antifertility activity was correlated with oestrogenic activity. Several tetrahydropyranyl ethers derived from oestradiol and synthetic steroids lacking a 3, or a 17 oxygen function showed a separation on these two parameters; this may indicate a relatively effective antifertility agent with low oestrogenicity.