title: Oral contraceptive agents: current status.
abstract: Oral contraceptives are the most widely prescribed and ingested drug in human history. The difficulty in establishing their clear-cut side effects is compounded by the rarity of these side effects and their occurrence with multiple other factors and cofactors that may be etiologically more important. For the prudent surgeon, suffice it to say that should operation require bedrest postoperatively, oral contraceptives should be stopped at least 2 weeks preoperatively and barrier methods begun. Barrier methods should also be used when drugs that interfere with oral contraceptives are prescribed. Oral contraceptives and anticoagulants should not be given together because of the chemical changes in the blood caused by the steroid content of the contraceptive. As surgeons, we must remember the contraindications noted herein and become familiar with the current literature as new developments unfold in the dynamic field of conception control.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Florida College of Medicine, Gainesville 32610.
authors.forename: B J
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Masterson
mesh_terms: D003276:Contraceptives, Oral / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D012307:Risk Factors; D013514:Surgical Procedures, Operative
chemical_list: D003276:Contraceptives, Oral