title: Oral contraceptives: therapeutic uses and quality-of-life benefits--case presentations.
abstract: Numerous studies have shown that oral contraceptives (OC) provide protection against a wide variety of illnesses and conditions, including loss of bone density, ovarian cysts, menstrual cycle irregularities, dysmenorrhea and menorrhagia, ectopic pregnancy, pelvic inflammatory disease, benign breast disease, endometrial cancer, and ovarian cancer. How OC can be used not only for contraception but also to improve health among women throughout their reproductive years is illustrated by four case presentations: an adolescent with menstrual problems; a 25-year-old mulligravida who wishes to delay childbearing; a 35-year-old who has completed her family and requests tubal ligation; and a 45-year-old with perimenopausal symptoms. In view of their numerous health benefits, OC are to reproductive-age women as hormone replacement therapy is to menopausal women.
authors.affiliation: Texas A&M University College of Medicine, Scott & White Clinic/Hospital, Temple 76508, USA.
authors.forename: P J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Sulak
mesh_terms: D000152:Acne Vulgaris / Q000188:drug therapy; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003278:Contraceptives, Oral, Hormonal / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003280:Contraceptives, Oral, Synthetic / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004412:Dysmenorrhea / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004715:Endometriosis / Q000517:prevention & control; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007246:Infertility / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010024:Osteoporosis / Q000517:prevention & control; D010048:Ovarian Cysts / Q000517:prevention & control; D017697:Premenopause / Q000187:drug effects*; D011788:Quality of Life
chemical_list: D003278:Contraceptives, Oral, Hormonal; D003280:Contraceptives, Oral, Synthetic