The Pill at 56 and Counting: Still Contracepting After All These Years

Abstract

Oral contraceptives are one of the most popular contraceptive methods worldwide. They offer many benefits other than contraceptive efficacy; women also choose the pill for medical or personal reasons. While the pill is extremely safe, there are still concerns about side effects and complications, difficulties with cycle control and compliance. Several approaches have been developed to improve overall experience with oral contraceptives, including lowering doses of estrogen to diminish side effects, though that can create more bleeding irregularities and possibly reduce efficacy. Modifications of pill scheduling by proposing extended or continuous cycle have shown good results decreasing symptoms related to menses. Contraceptive pills can effectively decrease certain premenstrual and menstrual symptoms. Finally, the use of new technologies to try to increase adherence is being explored, though without convincing results so far.