Hormonal contraceptives do more than prevent pregnancy

December 29, 2009 by Shawn Douglas
Filed under: News, Pregnancy

Hormonal contraceptives provide additional benefits to many women who use them to prevent pregnancy.

The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists has published a new bulletin in January’s edition of the journal Obstetrics and Gynecology, raising awareness of the many benefits of hormonal contraceptives for women. Yet like many drugs, it’s not perfect.

With more than 80 percent of women likely to use hormonal contraceptives during their lifetime, the bulletin aims to provide information to doctors about the additional benefits of the treatment.

Dr. Robert L. Reid, Chair of the Division of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility at Queen’s University and head author of the bulletin, said: “We’ve known for many years that hormonal contraceptives have health advantages beyond preventing pregnancy. These recommendations examine the scientific data supporting the non-contraceptive uses of hormonal contraceptives to treat specific conditions.”

In addition to birth control, many women have found birth control pills to aid with menstruation-related disorders like dysmenorrheal (uterine pain) and heavy bleeding which may lead to anemia.

Additionally, hormonal contraceptives that contain both estrogen and a progestin also fend off hirsutism (excess hair growth) and acne problems through the suppression of the male hormone androgen. Researchers also have found that the same type of contraception may confer protections against endometrial and ovarian cancers with long-term use.

However, a negative issue may still exist with treatments that contain the hormone medroxyprogesterone. Commonly known as Depo-Provera, the contraceptive has been under fire over the years for its links to decreases in bone density in women. A class-action lawsuit was filed against drug company Pfizer in 2005 by women who claimed bone loss occurred while on the drug.

Additional research has been published over the years in journals indicating possible links to the drug and decreased bone density. The most recent is a study of 240 women also set to be published in the journal Obstetrics and Gynecology this January. The researchers found a five percent reduction in bone density in over half of those women that maintained treatments for two years. (Only 95 of the 240 women maintained their treatment.)

For those women who have questions about the benefits and drawbacks of hormonal contraceptives, consultation with a doctor is recommended.