Nebenerscheinungen hormoneller Kontrazeption

Abstract

During 25 years 1,702 women with 17,228 cycles under oral contraceptive were observed. This report covers 1,021 women with 11,648 cycles and the frequency of side-effects. The acceptability of OC's is more and more dominated by the side-effects. All subjective symptoms were asked for and not--as usually done--just noted when the woman complained spontaneously. For objective results the bleeding calendar was controlled for amenorrhea, spottings and break-through bleedings. Lowering the ethinylestradiol dose below 50 micrograms (with monophasic OCs, micropills) resulted in a worse cycle control as far as bleeding and silent menstruation were concerned. The genuine normophasic method showed generally a far better cycle control. Combining this method with a new gestagen (Desogestrel) resulted a still better cycle control, especially with amenorrhea. The events of nervosity, gastrointestinal disturbances, changes of libido and fatigue were also less frequent with this OC (Ovidol-Oviol).