EVALUATION OF SIDE EFFECTS OF LOW DOSE CONTRACEPTIV E PILLS ADMINISTERED BY THE VAGINAL ROUTE

Oral contraceptive pills have several side effects especially on the gastrointestinal tract and liver. Absorption of low dose (LD) pills by the vaginal route avoids the first pass of the steroids through these tracts and probably has fewer side effects. This study was a cohort study for evaluation of side effects and acceptability of LD pills administered by the vaginal route. In a clinical trial study, undesirable side effects such as nausea, dysmenorrhea, breast tenderness gastrointestinal disorders, vertigo, headache, and breakthrough bleeding (BTB) were studied. The side effects, efficacy and acceptability were evaluated in 220 women using contraceptive pills containing 150mg levonorgestrel and 30mg ethinyl estradiol via the vaginal route in 660 cycles. The side effects among the patients who used the contraceptive pills vaginally were nausea in four subjects (1.8%), vertigo and headache in two subjects (0.9%), breast tenderness in four subjects (1.8%), dysmenorrhea in four subjects (1.8%), gastrointestinal disorders in one subject (0.5%), and BTB (breakthrough bleeding) in twelve subjects (5.5%). Most subjects in this study expressed a high level of acceptability with the vaginal route. There was only one unwanted pregnancy that occurred when the subject used the contraceptive pill incorrectly. Using contraceptive pills administered by the vaginal route appears to be a safe method with few side effects and high acceptability.