What are the benefits of oral contraceptive pills?
The combined oral contraceptive pill suppresses the natural hormone cycle providing:
- one of the most effective contraceptive methods available (Pearl Index).
- less painful periods (4 ;23.7).
- less heavy periods (4 ;24.17A).
- improvement of premenstrual tension (premenstrual syndrome).
- regular cycles for those with irregular periods.
The additional benefits include:
- improvement of acne (Q5.10).
- oestrogen for those with amenorrhoea (absent periods) and low oestrogen levels (Q6.21).
- reduction of excess body hair (hirsutism -hirsutism treatment).
- reduced incidence of functional ovarian cysts (3).
- improvement in endometriosis (endometriosis).
- reduction in the incidence of cancer of the ovary and endometrium (19 and Q15.20).
The four-weekly bleeds that occur whilst taking the combined oral contraceptive pill are not periods (menstruation) but withdrawal bleeds. Menstruation is a bleed that occurs each month spontaneously and not in women who are taking hormonal treatment such as the combined oral contraceptive pill.
Please click on the required question.
- 1 What is an oral contraceptive?
- 2 How popular are oral contraceptive pills?
- 3 What are the benefits of the combined oral contraceptive pill?
- 4 Will the combined oral contraceptive pill improve my periods?
- 5 Could the combined oral contraceptive pill change my libido (sex drive)
- 6 What are the risks of taking combined oral contraceptive pills?
- 7 What side effects could I have whilst taking the combined oral contraceptive pill?
- 8 What is the effect of the combined oral contraceptive pill on body weight?
- 9 Will the combined oral contraceptive pill increase my vaginal discharge?
- 10 Does the combined oral contraceptive pill increase the chance of pelvic infections?
- 11 What is the relationship between the combined oral contraceptive pill and fibroids?
- 12 Could a combined oral contraceptive pill increase my blood pressure?
- 13 Do combined oral contraceptive pills have any effect on the blood?
- 14 What is the relationship between the combined oral contraceptive pill and thromboembolism?
- 15 What is the relationship between the combined oral contraceptive pill and heart attacks?
- 16 What is the relationship between the combined oral contraceptive pill and strokes?
- 17 Does the combined oral contraceptive pill affect the breasts?
- 18 Could I feel depressed as a result of taking the combined oral contraceptive pill?
- 19 What is the relationship between the combined oral contraceptive pill and cancer of the ovary?
- 20 What is the relationship between the combined oral contraceptive pill and cancer of the uterus?
- 21 What is the relationship between the combined oral contraceptive pill and cancer of the cervix?
- 22 What is the relationship between the combined oral contraceptive pill and cancer of the breast?
- 23 Family Planning Support Groups.
- 24 Support Groups.
Thank you for choosing to visit us.
This is the personal website of David A Viniker MD FRCOG, Consultant Obstetrician and Gynaecologist at Whipps Cross University Hospital, London - Specialist Interests - Reproductive Medicine including Infertility, PCOS, PMS, Menopause and HRT.
I do hope that you find the answers to your women's health questions in the patient information and medical advice provided.
