Oral contraceptive discontinuation: do side effects matter?
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to assess self-reported side effects in women after they received the oral contraceptive (OC) and to compare discontinuation rates, according to presence or absence of side effects.


METHODS
The study comprised 1716 women aged <25 years who initiated the OC at 3 publicly funded family planning clinics and completed structured interviews after 3 and 6 months.


RESULTS
Nearly 60% of subjects discontinued the OC by 6 months. Most subjects reported no changes in headaches, weight, moodiness, and sexual satisfaction during the first 3 months of OC use. Subjects with any complaints, especially women with increased headaches or moodiness, were more likely to discontinue the OC prematurely. Nonetheless, most discontinuation occurred for reasons that were unrelated to side effects.


CONCLUSIONS
Side effects are absent or mild among most OC users, but women with complaints are more likely to discontinue. Side effects are less important reasons for discontinuation than widely believed.
Westhoff
Carolyn L
CL
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Columbia University Medical Center/New York Presbyterian Hospital, and the Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA. clw3@columbia.edu
Heartwell
Stephen
S
Edwards
Sharon
S
Zieman
Mimi
M
Stuart
Gretchen
G
Cwiak
Carrie
C
Davis
Anne
A
Robilotto
Tina
T
Cushman
Linda
L
Kalmuss
Debra
D
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D003276:Contraceptives, Oral / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006261:Headache / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D019964:Mood Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D016017:Odds Ratio; D011336:Probability; D018570:Risk Assessment; D013375:Substance Withdrawal Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology; D013997:Time Factors; D015430:Weight Gain
D003276:Contraceptives, Oral