Adverse Effects of Hormonal contraception

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Hormonal contraception has been an available method of birth control for over four decades Despite this, women’s knowledge often moves between myth and reality, and never has another medical finding aroused over similar controversial opinions.

Misperceptions, previous personal experience, suggestion by poor experience from other women and influence of mass media, sometimes contribute to noncompliance or drop-out of the used hormonal contraceptive method because of the user’s rational or irrational anxieties ⁽¹⁾.

In fact, this flash-information may lead to a clearcut relationship between negative suggestion and the incidence of emotional refusal ⁽²⁾. 

Particularly, the mass media continue to show an ambiguous behaviour enhancing the health risks of COCs use with a generic and uncritical manner or emphasizing the good effects of the hormonal contraceptives without informing about their risks.  In addition, the current international influence by pharmaceutical companies on one part of the research can contribute to minimize many adverse outcomes of the sexual steroids and to limit a widespread scientific information.

It is known that biological and psychological changes are linked to hormonal contraception,and their adverse effects can play an important role in determining acceptability ⁽³⁾.

Actually, hormonal contraceptives (COCs) contain both estrogen and progestin or progestin alone.  In 1964, ethinyl estradiol (EE) a better tolerated synthetic estrogen, replaced mestranol and, at the moment, is still used.

Adverse Effects of Hormonal contraception Cardiovascular Effects - Myocardial Infarction - Stroke - Arterial Accidents - Venous Thromboembolism - Blood Hypertension Other Effects - Angioedema - Peliosis Hepatis - Severe Adverse Ocular Reactions - Vasculitis Moderate adverse effects Cancer Risks - Breast cancer risk - Ovarian cancer risk - Endometrial cancer risk - Cervical cancer risk - Colorectal cancer risk - Skin cancer risk - Liver cancer risk - Pancreatic cancer risk - Neurofibromas growth - Unclear cancer risks Hazardous prescription Hormonal contraception in female transplant recipients - Hormonal contraception in female kidney recipients - Hormonal contraception in female liver transplant recipients - Hormonal contraception in female heart transplant recipients - Contraception in women HIV infected Mild Adverse effects New Perspectives immunocontraception Contraceptive counseling Conclusion

Oral EE, 200 times more potent than estradiol, exerts its action, primarily dose-dependent, on the estrogen-target organs and tissues (endometrium, mammary epithelium, liver, haemostasis and lipid levels).

Furthermore, the estrogen primarily controls the menstrual bleeding.  Estrogen and progestin work synergically to inhibit ovulation. 

The androgenic action of progestins, reflected in reduction of HDL cholesterol, is an important factor in occurrence of arterial accidents ⁽⁴⁾. 

RELATED STORIES:
Contraceptive counseling   Progesterone Receptor Modulators (PMRS) and Progesterone Antagonists (PAS)   Conclusion - adverse effects of Hormonal contraception   New Perspectives immunocontraception   Low Libido as adverse effect of Hormonal contraception   Vaginal Infections as adverse effect of Hormonal contraception   Depression as adverse effect of Hormonal contraception   Ovarian cysts as adverse effect of Hormonal contraception   Irregular Bleeding Pattern as adverse effect of Hormonal contraception   Mild Adverse effects of Hormonal contraception   Dermatological Adverse effects   Headache as Adverse Effect of Hormonal contraception   Adverse effects on carbohydrate and lipid metabolism   Moderate adverse effects hepatobiliary complications   Hormonal contraception in female heart transplant recipients

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