Clinical complications of oral contraceptives

All epidemiological investigations dealing with oral contraceptives have been reviewed. Oral contraceptives produce changes in the hormonal balance of the sex steroids changes in thyroid and adrenal substances and changes in protein lipid and carbohydrate metabolism. Pills have the beneficial effects of reducing premenstrual tensions and lowering the incidence of benign breast cancers. The studies indicate that use of oral contraceptives carries with it an increased risk of hypertension thrombotic stroke venous thromboembolism jaundice and depression. The tendency of women to develop venous thromboembolism differs with differing genetic populations. The absolute risk for each of these serious disorders is small. It is advisable to consider preexisting hypertension history of stroke venous thromboembolism depression or migraine headaches connected with neurological effects as contraindications for pill use. The authors conclude that the small risk of serious illness is outweighed by the beneficial family planning effects of the pill.