Since their introduction in the 1960s, oral contraceptives have been rapidly accepted as an effective method of contraception, with over 100 million users worldwide. Lower-dose pills have been formulated over the years so that, for the majority, the pill is extremely safe, often with added health benefits. Major risks related to pill use are now also recognised so that women at particular risk ...

Adolescents are frequently prescribed hormonal contraceptive agents for both contraceptive and noncontraceptive purposes. Over half of all sexually experienced females aged 15 to 19 have used some form of hormonal contraception: 56% oral contraceptive pills (OCPs), 20% injectable, 14% emergency, 10% patch, and 5% ring. Given that 50% of adolescent girls have been sexually active before age 18, ...

OBJECTIVES This study was performed to investigate the clinical presentation and predisposing factors for cerebral vein and sinus thrombosis (CVST) in Isfahan, Iran. METHODS Data from the records of all patients with CVST referred to the largest tertiary-care hospital of Isfahan during a five-year period (1997 to 2001) were extracted and reviewed. RESULTS The number of cases with CVST diagn...

BACKGROUND Combined hormonal contraceptives (CHCs) are popular methods of reversible contraception in the United States, but adherence remains an issue as reflected in their lower rates of typical use effectiveness. The objective of this systematic review was to evaluate evidence on the effect of missed CHCs on pregnancy rates as well as surrogate measures of contraceptive effectiveness (e.g., ...

Objective: Contraception has gained gradual popularity in many parts of the developing world including Pakistan. Despite this increase in acceptance, the birth rate remains high. Failure of contraception has been reported in the literature, which made us aim to conduct this study. The efficiency of hormonal contraceptives in the study area was assessed and this is the first report from Pakistan...

Sickle celi disease is listed in the manufacturers' data sheets in the United Kingdom as a contraindication to the use of most combined contraceptive pills; the result is confused advice on family planning to a group ofwomenwho are at substantial risk from both planned and unplanned pregnancy. A study in north London on the use of contraceptives by women with sickle cell disease indicates that ...

BACKGROUND Hormonal contraceptives are the most common method used worldwide by teenagers to prevent unwanted pregnancies. To date there are limited data about such use by teenagers in the UK. This study investigated trends and patterns of hormonal contraceptive prescribing to adolescents aged 12-18 years in UK primary care between 2002 and 2011. METHODS A retrospective cohort study using the...

Hormonal contraceptive pills containing 750 microgram levonorgestrel are the most commonly used postcoital contraceptive method because of their high efficacy and fewer side effects. Emergency contraceptive pills containing levonorgestrel present their effects by several mechanisms, including delayed tubal transport of the ovum. A delay of tubal transportation of an ovum is also one of the poss...

Epidemiological studies indicate that use of third generation oral contraceptives increases the risk of venous thromboembolism more than does use of second generation oral contraceptives. Critics have suggested that this finding may be confounded by indication, since third generation pills were considered to be safer and were therefore perhaps prescribed more often to women at high risk. If con...