Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Noncontraceptive Health Benefits of Oral Contraceptives

  • Published:
Reviews in Endocrine and Metabolic Disorders Aims and scope Submit manuscript

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

References

  1. Royal College of General Practitioners: Oral Contraceptives and Health An Interim Report From the Oral Contraceptive Study of the RCGP. New York: Pitman Medical Publishing, 1974.

    Google Scholar 

  2. Mishell DR, Jr. Noncontraceptive health benefits of oral steroidal contraceptives. Am J Obstet Gynecol 1982;142:809-816.

    Google Scholar 

  3. Ory HW. The noncontraceptive health benefits from oral contraceptive use. Fam Plann Perspect 1982;14:182-184.

    Google Scholar 

  4. Mishell DR, Jr. Oral contraception; past, present, and future perspectives. Int J Fertil 1991;36:7-18.

    Google Scholar 

  5. Kaunitz AM. Combination oral contraceptives. Contemp Clin Gynecol Obstet 2001;1:149-166.

    Google Scholar 

  6. The WHO Collaborative Study of Neoplasia and Steroid Contraceptives. Endometrial cancer and combined oral contraceptives. Int J Epidemiol 1988;17:263-269.

    Google Scholar 

  7. Schlesselman JJ. Risk of endometrial cancer in relation to use of combined oral contraceptives. A practitioner's guide to meta-analysis. Hum Reprod 1997;12:1851-1863.

    Google Scholar 

  8. Grimes DA, Economy KE. Primary prevention of gynecologic cancers. Am J Obstet Gynecol 1995;172:227-235.

    Google Scholar 

  9. The Cancer and Steroid Hormone Study of the Centers for Disease Control and the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development. Combination oral contraceptive use and the risk of endometrial cancer. JAMA 1987;257:796-800.

    Google Scholar 

  10. Jick SS, Walker AM, Jick H. Oral contraceptives and endometrial cancer. Obstet Gynecol 1993;82:931-935.

    Google Scholar 

  11. Schlesselman JJ. Net effect of oral contraceptive use on the risk of cancer in women in the United States. Obstet Gynecol 1995;85:793-801.

    Google Scholar 

  12. Centers for Disease Control, and the National Institute of Child Health and Development. The Cancer and Steroid Hormone Study. The reduction of risk of ovarian cancer associated with oral contraceptive use. N Engl J Med 1987;316:650-655.

    Google Scholar 

  13. Rosenberg L, Palmer JR, Zauber AG, Warshauer ME, Lewis, Jr. JL, Strom BL, Harlap S, Shapiro S. A case-control study of oral contraceptive use and invasive epithelial ovarian cancer. Am J Epidemiol 1994;139;654-661.

    Google Scholar 

  14. Ness RB, Grisso JA, Klapper J, Schiesselman JJ, Silberzweig S, Vergona R, Morgan M, Wheeler JE, the SHARE Study Group. Risk of ovarian cancer in relation to estrogen and progestin dose and use characteristics of oral contraceptives. Am J Epidemiol 2000;152:233-241.

    Google Scholar 

  15. Gross TP, Schlesselman JJ. The estimated effect of oral contraceptive use on the cumulative risk of epithelial ovarian cancer. Obstet Gynecol 1994;83:419-424.

    Google Scholar 

  16. Narod SSA, risch H, Moslehi R, Dorum A, Neuhausen S, Olsson H, Provencher D, Radice P, Evans G, Bishop S, Brunet JS, Ponder BA. Oral contraceptives and the risk of hereditary ovarian cancer. N Engl J Med 1998;339:424-428.

    Google Scholar 

  17. Modan B, Hartge P, Hirsy-Yechezkel G, Chetrit A, Lubin F, Beller U, Ben-Baruch G, Fishman A, Menczer J, Struewing JP, Tucker MA, Ebbers SM, Friedman E, Piura B, Wacholder S. Parity, oral contraceptives, and the risk of ovarian cancer among carriers and noncarriers of a BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutation. N Engl J Med 2001;345:235-240.

    Google Scholar 

  18. Schildkraut JM, Schwingl PJ, Bastos E, Evanoff A, Hughes C. Epithelial ovarian cancer risk among women with polycystic ovary syndrome. Obstet Gynecol 1996; 88: 554-559.

    Google Scholar 

  19. Gwinn ML, Lee NC, Rhodes PH, Layde PM, Rubin GL. Pregnancy, breast feeding, and oral contraceptives and the risk of epithelial ovarian cancer. J Clin Epidemiol 1990;43:559-568.

    Google Scholar 

  20. Rodriguez GC, Walmer DK, Cline M, Krigman H, Lessey BA, Whitaker RS, Dodge R, Hughes CL. Effect of progestin on the ovarian epithelium of macaques: cancer prevention through apoptosis? J Soc Gynecol Invest 1998;5:271-276.

    Google Scholar 

  21. Rodriguez GC, Nagarsheth NP, Walmer D, Cline M, Whitaker RS, Isner P, Berchuck A, Dodge RK, Huges CL. Progestin-induced apoptosis in the Macaque ovarian epithelim: Differential regulation of transforming growth factor-beta. J Natl Cancer Inst 2002;94:50-60.

    Google Scholar 

  22. Rodriguez GC, Carver D, Anderson K, Barnes J, Berchuck A, Whitaker R, Ezsner P, Petille J. Evaluation of ovarian cancer preventive agents in the chicken. Poster presentation, Society of Gynecologic Oncologists 32nd Annual Meeting, March 3-7, 2001, Abstract No. 161.

  23. Westhoff C, Britton JA, Gammon MD, Wright T, Kelsey JL. Oral Contraceptives and benign ovarian tumors. Am J Epidemiol 2000;152:242-246.

    Google Scholar 

  24. Fernandez E, La Vecchia C, Balducci A, Chatenoud L, Francheschi S, Negri E. Oral contraceptives and colorectal cancer risk: a meta-analysis. Br J Cancer 2001;84:722-727.

    Google Scholar 

  25. Kjerulff KH, Erickson BA, Langenberg PW. Chronic gynecological conditions reported by US women: findings from the National Health Interview Survey, 1984 to 1992. Am J Public Health 1996;86:195-199.

    Google Scholar 

  26. Ylikorkala O, Dawood MY. New concepts in dysmenorrhea. Am J Obstet Gynecol 1978;130:833-847.

    Google Scholar 

  27. Sundell G, Milson I, Andersch B. Factors influencing the prevalence and severity of dysmenorrhea in young women. Br J Obstet Gynaecol 1990;97:588-594.

    Google Scholar 

  28. Robinson JC, Plichta S, Weisman CS, Nathanson CA, Ensminger M. Dysmenorrhea and use of oral contraceptives in adolescent women attending a family planning clinic. Am J Obstet Gynecol 1992;168:578-583.

    Google Scholar 

  29. Milsom I, Sundell G, Andersch B. The influence of different combined oral contraceptives on the prevalence and severity of dysmenorrhea. Contraception 1990;42:497-506.

    Google Scholar 

  30. Larsson G, Milsom I, Lindstedt G, Rybo G. The influence of a low-dose combined oral contraceptive on menstrual blood loss and iron status. Contraception 1992;46:327-334.

    Google Scholar 

  31. Fraser IS. Menorrhagia—a pragmatic approach to the understanding of causes and the need for investigations. Br J Obstet Gynaecol 1994;101:3-7.

    Google Scholar 

  32. Stabinsky SA, Einstein M, Breen JL. Modern treatments of menorrhagia attributable to dysfunctional uterine bleeding. Obstet Gynecol Surv 1998;54:61-72.

    Google Scholar 

  33. Nilsson L, Rybo G. Treatment of menorrhagia. Am J Obstet Gynecol 1971;110:713-720.

    Google Scholar 

  34. Davis A, Godwin A, Lippman J, Olson W, Kafrissen M. Triphasic norgestimate-ethinyl estradiol for treating dysfunctional uterine bleeding. Obstet Gynecol 2000;96:913-920.

    Google Scholar 

  35. Kaunitz AM. Menstruation: choosing whether... and when. Contraception 2000;62:277-284.

    Google Scholar 

  36. Freeman EW, Kroll R, Rapkin A, Pearlstein T, Brown C, Parsey K, Zhang P, Patel H, Foegh M. Evaluation of a unique oral contraceptive in the treatment of premenstrual dysphoric disorder. J Women's Health Gender Based Med 2001;10:561-569.

    Google Scholar 

  37. Sulak PJ, Scow RD, Preece C, Riggs MW, Kuehl TJ. Hormone withdrawal symptoms in oral contraceptive users. Obstet Gynecol 2000;95:261-266.

    Google Scholar 

  38. Sulak PJ, Cressman BE, Waldrop E, Holleman S, Kuehl TJ. Extending the duration of active oral contraceptive pills to manage hormone withdrawal symptoms. Obstet Gynecol 1997;89:179-183.

    Google Scholar 

  39. Sanders SA, Graham CA, Bass JL, Bancroft J. A prospective study of the effects of oral contraceptives on sexuality and well-being and their relationship to discontinuation. Contraception 2001;64:51-58.

    Google Scholar 

  40. Peterson HB, Lee NC. The health effects of oral contraceptives: mispreceptions, controversies, and continuing good news. Clin Obstet Gynecol 1989;32:339-355.

    Google Scholar 

  41. Jensen JT, Speroff L. Health benefits of oral contraceptives. Obstet Gynecol Clin North Am 2000;27:705-721.

    Google Scholar 

  42. Franks AL, Beral V, Cates W Jr, Hogue CJR. Contraception and ectopic pregnancy risk. Am J Obstet Gynecol 1990;163:1120-1123.

    Google Scholar 

  43. Sivin I. Dose-and age-dependent ectopic pregnancy risks with intrauterine contraception. Obstet Gynecol 1991;78:291-298.

    Google Scholar 

  44. Sivin I. International experience with NORPLANT® and NORPLANT®-2 contraceptives. Stud Fam Plann 1988;19:81-94.

    Google Scholar 

  45. Mirena.® Prescribing Information. Montville, NJ: Berlex Laboratories; November 2000.

    Google Scholar 

  46. Baeten JM, Nyange PM, Richardson BA, Lavreys L, Chohan B, Martin Jr. HL, Mandaliya K, Ndinya-Achola JO, Bwayo JJ, Kreiss JK. Hormonal contraception and risk of sexually transmitted disease acquisition: Results from a prospective study. Am J Obstet Gynecol 2001;185:380-385.

    Google Scholar 

  47. Panser LA, Phipps WR. Type of oral contraceptive in relation to acute, initial episodes of pelvic inflammatory disease. Contraception 1991;43:91-99.

    Google Scholar 

  48. Ness RB, Soper DE, Holley RL, Peipert J, Randall H, Sweet RL, Sondheimer SJ, Hendrix SL, Amortegul A, Trucco G, Bass DC. Hormonal and barrier contraception and risk of upper genital tract disease in the PID Evaluation and Clinical Health (PEACH) stud. Am J Obstet Gynecol 2001;185:121-127.

    Google Scholar 

  49. Ness RB, Keder LM, Soper DE, Amortegui AJ, Gluck J, Wiesenfeld J, Sweet RL, Rice PA, Peipert JF, Donegan SP, Kanbour-Shakir A. Oral contraception and the recognition of endometritis. Am J Obstet Gynecol 1997;176:580-585.

    Google Scholar 

  50. Chiaffarino F, Parazzini F, La Vecchia C, Ricci E, Crosignani PG. Oral contraceptive use and benign gynecologic conditions. A review. Contraception 1998;57:11-18.

    Google Scholar 

  51. Lanes SF, Birmann B, Walker AM, Singer S. Oral contraceptive type and functional ovarian cysts. Am J Obstet Gynecol 1992;166:956-961.

    Google Scholar 

  52. Holt VL, Daling JR, McKnight B, Moore D, Stergachis A, Weiss NS. Functional ovarian cysts in reaction to the use of monophasic and triphasic oral contraceptives. Obstet Gynecol 1992;79:529-533.

    Google Scholar 

  53. Grimes DA, Godwin AJ, Rubin A, Smith JA, Lacarra M. Ovulation and follicular development associated with three low-dose oral contraceptives: A randomized controlled trial. Obstet Gynecol 1994;83:29-34.

    Google Scholar 

  54. Charreau I, Plu-Bureau G, Bachelot A, Contesso G, Guinebretiére J-M, Lê MG. Oral contraceptive use and risk of benign breast disease in a French case-control study of young women. Eur J Cancer Prevent 1993;2:147-154.

    Google Scholar 

  55. Krowchuk DP. Managing acne in adolescents. Ped Clin North Am 2000;47:841-857.

    Google Scholar 

  56. Goulden V, Clark SM, Cunliffe WJ. Post-adolescent acne: a review of clinical features. Br J Dermatol 1997;136:66-70.

    Google Scholar 

  57. Goulden V, Stables GI, Cunliffe WJ. Prevalence of facial acne in adults. J Am Acad Dermatol 1999;41:577-580.

    Google Scholar 

  58. Layton AM, Henderson K, Cunliffe WJ. A clinical assessment of acne scarring. Clin Exp Dermatol 1994;4:303-308.

    Google Scholar 

  59. Lemay A, Dewailly SD, Grenier R, Huard J. Attenuation of mild hyperandrogenic activity in postpubertal acne by a triphasic oral contraceptive containing low doses of ethynyl estradiol and d,l-norgestrel. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 1990;71:8-14.

    Google Scholar 

  60. Carlborg L. Cyproterone acetate versus levonorgestrel combined with ethinyl estradiol in the treatment of acne. Acta Obstet Gynecol Scand 1986;(suppl 134):29-32.

  61. Wishart JM. An open study of Triphasil and Diane 50 in the treatment of acne. Australas J Dermatol 1991;32:51-54.

    Google Scholar 

  62. Lucky AW, Henderson TA, Olson WH, Robisch DM, Lebwohl M, Swinyer LJ. Effectiveness of norgestimate and ethinyl estradiol in treating moderate acne vulgaris. J Am Acad Dermatol 1997;37:746-754.

    Google Scholar 

  63. Redmond GP, Olson WH, Lippman JA, Kafrissen ME, Jones TM, Jorizzo JL. Norgestimate and ethinyl estradiol in the treatment of acne vulgaris: a randomized placebo-controlled trial. Obstet Gynecol 1997;89:615-622.

    Google Scholar 

  64. Gilliam M, Elam G, Maloney JM, Flack MR, Sevilia CL, McLaughlin-Miley CJM, Derman R. Acne treatment with a low-dose oral contraceptive. Obstet Gynecol 2001;97:9S.

    Google Scholar 

  65. NIH Consensus Development Panel on Osteoporosis Prevention, Diagnosis, and Therapy. Osteoporosis prevention, diagnosis, and therapy. JAMA 2001;285:785-795.

    Google Scholar 

  66. Lindsay R, Tohme J, Kanders B. The effect of oral contraceptive use on vertebral bone mass in pre-and post-menopausal women. Contraception 1986;34:333-340.

    Google Scholar 

  67. Recker RR, Davies M, Hinders SM, Heaney RP, Stegman MR, Kimmel DB. Bone gain in young adult women. JAMA 1992;268:2403-2408.

    Google Scholar 

  68. Pasco JA, Kotowicz MA, Henry MJ, Panahi S, Seeman E, Nicholson GC. Oral contraceptives and bone mineral density: A population-based study. Am J Obstet Gynecol 2000;182:265-269.

    Google Scholar 

  69. Kohung W, Borgatta L, Stubblefield P. Low-dose oral contraceptives and bone mineral density: an evidence-based analysis. Contraception 2000;61:77-82.

    Google Scholar 

  70. US Preventive Services Task Force. Guide to Clinical Preventive Services. 2nd edn. Baltimore: Williams and Wilkins, 1996.

    Google Scholar 

  71. Consensus Development Conference: Diagnosis, prophylaxis, and treatment of osteoporosis. Am J Med 1993;94:646-650.

    Google Scholar 

  72. Melton LJ, III. Epidemiology of osteoporosis: predicting who is at risk. Ann NY Acad Sci 1990;592:295-306.

    Google Scholar 

  73. Kritz-Silverstein D, Barrett-Connor E. Bone mineral density in postmenopausal women as determined by prior oral contraceptive use. Am J Public Health 1993;83:100-102.

    Google Scholar 

  74. Shargil AA. Hormone replacement therapy in perimenopausal women with a triphasic contraceptive compound: a three-year prospective study. Int J Fertil 1985;30:15-28.

    Google Scholar 

  75. Gambacciani M, Spinetti A, Capagli B, Piaggesi L, Floretti P. Longitudinal evaluation of perimenopausal vertebral bone loss: Effects of a low-dose oral contraceptive preparation on bone mineral density and metabolism. Obstet Gynecol 1994;83:392-396.

    Google Scholar 

  76. Michaelsson K, Baron JA, Farahmand BY, Persson I, Ljunghall S. Oral-contraceptive use and risk of hip fracture: a case-control study. Lancet 1999;353:1481-1484.

    Google Scholar 

  77. Kaunitz AM. Oral contraceptive use in perimenopause. Am J Obstet Gynecol 2001;185:S32-S37.

    Google Scholar 

  78. Kaunitz AM. Gynecologic problems of the perimenopause: evaluation and treatment. Obstet Gynecol Clinics North Am 2002 (in press).

  79. Akerlund M, Rode A, Westergaard J. Comparative profiles of reliability, cycle cotrol and side effects of two oral contraceptive formulations containing 150 micrograms desogestrel and either 30 micrograms or 20 micrograms ethinyl oestradiol. Br J Obstet Gynaecol 1993;100:832-838.

    Google Scholar 

  80. Endrikat J, Muller U, Dusterberg B. A twelve-month comparative clinical investigation of two low-dose oral contraceptives containing 20 ?g ethinylestradiol/75 ?g gestodene and 30 ?g ethinylestradiol/75 ?g gestodene with respect to efficacy, cycle control, and tolerance. Contraception 1997;55:131-137.

    Google Scholar 

  81. Sulak P, Lippman J, Siu C, Massaro J, Godwin A. Clinical comparison of triphasic norgestimate/35 ?g ethinyl estradiol and monophasic norethindrone acetate/20 ?g ethinyl estradiol. Contraception 1999;59:161-166.

    Google Scholar 

  82. Kaunitz AM. Efficacy, cycle control, and safety of two triphasic oral contraceptives: Cyclessa\(^{\bigcirc TM}\) (desogestrel/ethinyl estradiol) and Ortho-Novum 7/7/7 (norethindrone, ethinyl estradiol). A randomized clinical trial. Contraception 2000;61:295-302.

    Google Scholar 

  83. Hampton RM, Short M, Bieber E, Bouchard C, Ayotte N, Shangold G, Fisher AC, Creasy GW. Comparison of a novel norgestimate/ethinyl estradiol oral contraceptive (Ortho Tri-Cyclen Lo) with the oral contraceptive Loestrin Fe 1/20). Contraception 2001;63:289-295.

    Google Scholar 

  84. Casper RF, Dodin S, Reid RL, and study investigators. The effect of 20 ?g ethinyl estradiol/1 mg norethindrone acetate (Minestrin\(^{\bigcirc TM}\)), a low-dose oral contraceptive, on vaginal bleeding patterns, hot flashes, and quality of life in symptomatic perimenopausal women. Menopause 1997;4:139-147.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Florida Health Science Center, Jacksonville, FL, 32257

    Andrew M. Kaunitz

Authors
  1. Andrew M. Kaunitz
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Andrew M. Kaunitz.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Kaunitz, A.M. Noncontraceptive Health Benefits of Oral Contraceptives. Rev Endocr Metab Disord 3, 277–283 (2002). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1020084728544

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1020084728544

Search

Navigation