title: The combined oral contraceptive pill -- recent developments, risks and benefits.
abstract: The introduction of the birth control pill as an effective, coitally-independent method of contraception was a public health milestone of the last century. Over time, combined oral contraception (COC) formulations and pill-taking regimens have evolved with improved safety and tolerability while maintaining contraceptive efficacy. In addition to protection against pregnancy, use of combined oral contraception confers a number of significant non-contraceptive benefits to users. COC use is also associated with well-studied risks. Common side effects are generally self-limiting and improve with increasing duration of use while serious adverse events, including venous thromboembolism, are rare among healthy COC users. Contraceptive decision-making should include consideration of both the risks and benefits of a given method versus the real consequences of unintended pregnancy.
authors.affiliation: Einstein College of Medicine, Montefiore Medical Center, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology & Women's Health, 1695 Eastchester Road, Bronx, NY 10461, USA. Electronic address: mdragoma@montefiore.org.
authors.forename: Monica V
authors.initials: MV
authors.lastname: Dragoman
mesh_terms: D015519:Bone Density / Q000187:drug effects; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000517:prevention & control; D003267:Contraception / Q000379:methods / Q000639:trends; D003276:Contraceptives, Oral / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects*; D003277:Contraceptives, Oral, Combined / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D003278:Contraceptives, Oral, Hormonal / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D004412:Dysmenorrhea / Q000188:drug therapy; D016889:Endometrial Neoplasms / Q000517:prevention & control; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine; D005260:Female; D006176:Gynecology / Q000639:trends; D006801:Humans; D008597:Menstrual Cycle / Q000187:drug effects; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000517:prevention & control; D011247:Pregnancy; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D054556:Venous Thromboembolism / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000517:prevention & control
chemical_list: D003276:Contraceptives, Oral; D003277:Contraceptives, Oral, Combined; D003278:Contraceptives, Oral, Hormonal
keywords: gynaecology; hormonal contraception; non-contraceptive benefits; oral contraception