title: Oral contraceptive discontinuation: do side effects matter?
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: 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
authors.forename: Carolyn L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Westhoff
authors.forename: Stephen
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Heartwell
authors.forename: Sharon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Edwards
authors.forename: Mimi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zieman
authors.forename: Gretchen
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Stuart
authors.forename: Carrie
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Cwiak
authors.forename: Anne
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Davis
authors.forename: Tina
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Robilotto
authors.forename: Linda
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Cushman
authors.forename: Debra
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Kalmuss
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: D003276:Contraceptives, Oral