BACKGROUND Hormonal contraceptive use may be associated with a reduction in some premenstrual symptoms, however, the evidence remains equivocal. The objectives of the present study were to investigate the associations between ethnicity and hormonal contraceptive use with premenstrual symptoms. METHODS One thousand one hundred two women participating in the Toronto Nutrigenomics and Health Stu...

This report reviews some of the new studies regarding new hormonal contraceptive formulations (e.g., Yaz, Qlaira(®), extended-cycle or continuous combined contraceptives, subcutaneous depot medroxyprogesterone acetate, and ulipristal acetate as an emergency contraceptive). Recent data on the relationship between hormonal contraceptive use and bone health are also reviewed.

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, ...

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...

An estimated 80% of sexually active young women in the United States use hormonal contraceptives during their reproductive years. Associations between hormonal contraceptive use and mood disturbances remain understudied, despite the hypothesis that estrogen and progesterone play a role in mood problems. In this study, we used data from 6,654 sexually active nonpregnant women across 4 waves of t...

The use of combined hormonal contraceptives has been reported to increase the level of C-reactive protein (CRP). We assessed the effect of hormonal contraceptive use on inflammatory cytokines including CRP, monocyte chemotactic protein-1, soluble tumor necrosis factor (sTNF), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and soluble CD40 ligand. We used 79 female subjects (19 to 30 years old) who were combined oral co...

BACKGROUND In the UK, a large proportion of contraceptive services are provided from general practice. However, little is known about which contraceptive services are provided and to whom. STUDY DESIGN Descriptive serial cross-sectional study of women aged 12-55 years, registered with 191 general practices in Scotland, UK between 2004 and 2009. RESULTS Annual incidence of provision o...

While venous thromboembolism (VTE) is rare in young women of reproductive age, combined oral contraceptives increase the risk of VTE. In the patient in whom combined hormonal contraception is appropriate, it is reasonable to use any currently available preparation.

BACKGROUND Women with sickle cell disease have an increased risk of pregnancy-related complications and need safe, effective contraceptive methods to prevent unintended pregnancy. STUDY DESIGN We conducted a systematic review to examine the safety of hormonal and intrauterine contraceptive use among women with sickle cell disease. RESULTS Eight articles met the inclusion criteria. The evide...

BACKGROUND Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women worldwide. We investigated the association of hormonal contraceptive use and breast cancer in Thai women. METHODS A cohort study was conducted in Khon Kaen, Thailand. There were 70 cases of histologically confirmed breast cancer among 11 414 women aged 30 to 69 years who were recruited as participants in the cohort study during the p...