title: Non-contraceptive benefits of hormonal and intrauterine reversible contraceptive methods.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Most contraceptive methods present benefits beyond contraception; however, despite a large body of evidence, many healthcare professionals (HCPs), users and potential users are unaware of those benefits. This review evaluates the evidence for non-contraceptive benefits of hormonal and non-hormonal contraceptive methods.
  
  
  METHODS
  We searched the medical publications in PubMed, POPLINE, CENTRAL, EMBASE and LILACS for relevant articles, on non-contraceptive benefits of the use of hormonal and intrauterine reversible contraceptive methods, which were published in English between 1980 and July 2014. Articles were identified using the following search terms: 'contraceptive methods', 'benefits', 'cancer', 'anaemia', 'heavy menstrual bleeding (HMB)', 'endometrial hyperplasia', 'endometriosis' and 'leiomyoma'.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We identified, through the literature search, evidence that some combined oral contraceptives have benefits in controlling HMB and anaemia, reducing the rate of endometrial, ovarian and colorectal cancer and ectopic pregnancy as well as alleviating symptoms of premenstrual dysphoric disorder. Furthermore, the use of the levonorgestrel-releasing intrauterine system also controls HMB and anaemia and endometrial hyperplasia and cancer, reduces rates of endometrial polyps in users of tamoxifen and alleviates pain associated with endometriosis and adenomyosis. Depot medroxyprogesterone acetate controls crises of pain associated with sickle cell disease and endometriosis. Users of the etonogestrel-releasing contraceptive implant have the benefits of a reduction of pain associated with endometriosis, and users of the copper intrauterine device have reduced rates of endometrial and cervical cancer.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Despite the high contraceptive effectiveness of many hormonal and intrauterine reversible contraceptive methods, many HCPs, users and potential users are concerned mainly about side effects and safety of both hormonal and non-hormonal contraceptive methods, and there is scarce information about the many benefits that these methods offer beyond contraception.
authors.affiliation: Human Reproduction Unit, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, School of Medicine, University of Campinas (UNICAMP), Caixa Postal 6181, 13084-971 Campinas, SP, Brazil bahamond@caism.unicamp.br.
authors.forename: Luis
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Bahamondes
authors.affiliation: Human Reproduction Unit, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, School of Medicine, University of Campinas (UNICAMP), Caixa Postal 6181, 13084-971 Campinas, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Valeria Bahamondes
authors.affiliation: Feinberg School of Medicine of Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA.
authors.forename: Lee P
authors.initials: LP
authors.lastname: Shulman
mesh_terms: D000740:Anemia / Q000188:drug therapy; D003267:Contraception / Q000379:methods; D003271:Contraceptive Agents, Female / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003277:Contraceptives, Oral, Combined / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D052776:Female Urogenital Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005833:Genital Neoplasms, Female / Q000188:drug therapy; D006801:Humans; D007436:Intrauterine Devices, Medicated; D016912:Levonorgestrel / Q000627:therapeutic use; D010146:Pain / Q000517:prevention & control; D011247:Pregnancy; D011271:Pregnancy, Ectopic / Q000188:drug therapy; D065446:Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder / Q000188:drug therapy
chemical_list: D003271:Contraceptive Agents, Female; D003277:Contraceptives, Oral, Combined; D016912:Levonorgestrel
keywords: copper intrauterine device; depot medroxyprogesterone acetate; levonorgestrel-releasing intrauterine system; non-contraceptive benefits; oral contraceptives