BACKGROUND We aimed to determine the prevalence of consumption of oral contraceptives (OCs) among adolescents and young women living in Spain and to identify the factors associated with this consumption. METHODS We performed a cross-sectional study on the consumption of OCs by women aged 15-30 years residing in Spain. We used secondary individualized data from the 2006 (n = 2513) and 2012 (n ...

According to the Mayo Clinic, research [2] on the link between oral contraceptives (OCs) and breast cancer shows mixed results. Recent studies indicate that newer low-dose forms of OCs do not increase the risk of breast cancer. However the true story may be more nuanced ? some studies show OC use increases the risk of breast cancer among women with the abnormal BRCA1 gene, but not among women w...

According to the Mayo Clinic, research [2] on the link between oral contraceptives (OCs) and breast cancer shows mixed results. Recent studies indicate that newer low-dose forms of OCs do not increase the risk of breast cancer. However the true story may be more nuanced ? some studies show OC use increases the risk of breast cancer among women with the abnormal BRCA1 gene, but not among women w...

According to the Mayo Clinic, research [2] on the link between oral contraceptives (OCs) and breast cancer shows mixed results. Recent studies indicate that newer low-dose forms of OCs do not increase the risk of breast cancer. However the true story may be more nuanced ? some studies show OC use increases the risk of breast cancer among women with the abnormal BRCA1 gene, but not among women w...

BACKGROUND The effect of commonly used oral contraceptives (OCs) on blood pressure is still unclear. The aim of this study was to examine the relationship between OCs use and blood pressure and the prevalence of hypertension in a population-based sample of Korean women. METHODS A cross-sectional study was conducted using data from 3356 participants aged 35-55 years collected in the 2007-2009 ...

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a common endocrinopathy affecting reproductive-aged women. PCOS has been recognized as a syndrome combining reproductive and metabolic abnormalities with lifelong health implications. Cardiometabolic alterations require regular screening and effective and targeted lifestyle advice to lose weight as well as to prevent weight gain. Pharmacological therapy inclu...

Evidence-Based Answer Metformin, pioglitazone (Actos), and rosiglitazone (Avandia) can be used to improve menstrual cycling in women with PCOS. (Strength of Recommendation [SOR]: A, based on a meta-analysis.) However, metformin is much less effective than oral contraceptives (OCs). (SOR: A, based on a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials [RCTs].) A Cochrane review of 44 RCTs (N = 3,992...

BACKGROUND Enzyme-inducing antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) reduce the efficacy of oral contraceptives. Little is known of contraceptive practice among reproductive-age women who receive AEDs. STUDY DESIGN We explored the use of contraceptive methods among Dutch women aged 15 to 49 years with prescriptions of AEDs using pharmacy dispensing database. Drug dispensing data of AEDs and contraceptives i...

BACKGROUND Positive and negative effects on bone mineral density (BMD) have been described as a result of the premenopausal use of oral contraceptives (OCs); increased fracture rates have also been reported. This study assessed the relation between OC use and BMD in a population-based, 9-centre, national sample of women aged 25-45 years. METHODS Premenopausal women who had been enrolled in th...

OBJECTIVE We studied the associations between 1) current use of oral contraceptives (OCs) and 2) glucose levels, insulin levels, and diabetes in young women. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS Subjects were women (n = 1,940) in the Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults (CARDIA) study, a prospective observational study of African-Americans and whites aged 18-30 years at enrollment in 1985-...